Osvaldo elects to join Italy squad

Argentina-born Pablo Daniel Osvaldo has opted to represent Italy at international level after being named in the squad to face Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands.

In-form forwards
The ACF Fiorentina striker is one of two new faces in Pierluigi Casiraghi's 22-man squad along with Pisa Calcio forward Alessio Cerci. Osvaldo, 21, has scored twice in three league appearances for the Viola this season while 20-year-old Cerci has hit seven goals in Serie B for Pisa while on loan from AS Roma. The Group 1 leaders are without Villarreal CF striker Giuseppe Rossi, who is out for six weeks with a knee injury and Torino FC defender Matteo Rubin. They face Azerbaijan on 16 November and the Faroese five days later.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Enrico Alfonso (FC Internazionale Milano), Andrea Consigli (Rimini Calcio), Salvatore Sirigu (US Cremonese).

Defenders: Domenico Criscito (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (S.S. Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (Torino FC), Marco Rossi (Parma FC), Fabiano Santacroce (Brescia Calcio).

Midfielders: Francesco Bolzoni (FC Internazionale Milano), Luca Cigarini (Parma FC), Paolo De Ceglie (AC Siena), Daniele Dessena (Parma FC), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli FC), Salvatore Bocchetti (Frosinone Calcio), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio), Gabriele Paonessa (US Avellino), Andrea Russotto (Treviso FC).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Alessio Cerci (Pisa Calcio), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (ACF Fiorentina), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli FC).