Waiting game for Gilardino

Surprise inclusion
Italian supporters had been pressing Gilardino's claims for a place in Giovanni Trapattoni's squad for UEFA EURO 2004™, and with that in mind, the 21-year-old striker's inclusion in the U21 set-up had not been expected.

Inzaghi doubt
The U21 final takes place on 8 June, six days before Italy's opening game in Portugal and Gilardino, who scored all four goals to take his seasonal tally to 23 as Parma defeated Udinese Calcio 4-3 at the weekend, may miss out on the senior squad, set to be announced later this week, if AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi is passed fit to play.

Parma seven
Gilardino is one of six Parma players in the U21 squad, which is made up entirely of Serie A talent. Brescia Calcio have four U21 squad members, AS Roma and Bologna FC have three each and the remaining six players hail from five different clubs, although Milan, S.S. Lazio, FC Internationale and Juventus FC are not represented.

Italy U21 squad

Goalkeepers
Federico Agliardi (Brescia Calcio)
Marco Amelia (Parma AC)
Carlo Zotti (AS Roma)

Defenders
Andrea Barzagli (AC Chievo Verona)
Daniele Bonera (Parma AC)
Alessandro Gamberini (Bologna FC)
Cesare Bovo (US Lecce)
Emiliano Moretti (Bologna FC)
Alessandro Potenza (Parma AC)
Cristian Zaccardo (Bologna FC)

Midfielders
Matteo Brighi (Brescia Calcio)
Simone Del Nero (Brescia Calcio)
Marco Donadel (Parma AC)
Fabio Gatti (AC Perugia)
Giandomenico Mesto (Reggina Calcio)
Angelo Palombo (UC Sampdoria)
Giampiero Pinzi (Udinese Calcio)
Alessandro Rosina (Parma AC)
Gaetano D'Agostino (AS Roma)
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)

Forwards
Andrea Caracciolo (Brescia Calcio)
Antonio Floro Flores (UC Sampdoria)
Alberto Gilardino (Parma AC)
Giuseppe Sculli (AC Chievo Verona)