De Silvestri joins Italy selection

S.S. Lazio full-back Lorenzo De Silvestri has been included in Pierluigi Casiraghi's Italy squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Albania.

Bucharest success
The 19-year-old caught the eye in Lazio's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round win at FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti and could now play in the Group 1 games on 7 and 11 September. De Silvestri previously captained Italy at U17 and U19 levels. AS Roma defender Marco Andreolli returns to the squad after missing the 2-1 friendly victory against France through injury. Five-time European champions Italy are second in their group behind Croatia but have a match in hand after defeating Albania 4-0 in their opener in June.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Rimini Calcio), Salvatore Sirigu (US Cremonese).

Defenders: Marco Andreolli (AS Roma), Domenico Criscito (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (S.S. Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (Torino FC), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio), Andrea Ranocchia (AC Arezzo), Marco Rossi (Parma FC), Fabiano Santacroce (Brescia Calcio).

Midfielders: Luca Cigarini (Parma FC), Paolo De Ceglie (AC Siena), Daniele Dessena (Parma FC), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli FC), Claudio Marchisio (Empoli FC), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Gabriele Paonessa (US Avellino), Andrea Russotto (Treviso FC).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Arturo Lupoli (ACF Fiorentina), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli FC), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal CF).