Casiraghi sticks with tried and tested

Pierluigi Casiraghi has sprung no surprises ahead of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off with Israel, naming only familiar faces in his 23-man squad.

Balotelli retained
The five-time champions have Torino FC midfielder Ignazio Abate and S.S. Lazio full-back Lorenzo De Silvestri back from injuries. Casiraghi also keeps faith with FC Internazionale Milano forward Mario Balotelli, who scored on his U21 debut against Greece last month a few weeks after becoming an Italian citizen. Juventus trio Paolo De Ceglie, Claudio Marchisio and Sebastian Giovinco also feature after playing in the Bianconeri's UEFA Champions League draw at FC BATE Borisov on Tuesday.

Rossi absent
Villarreal CF striker Giuseppe Rossi is omitted, however, despite recovering from a thigh injury to score in his comeback game against Real Sporting de Gijón last weekend. His exclusion may mean he will be called into Marcello Lippi's senior squad – which is announced tomorrow – for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Azzurrini face Israel in Ancona on 11 October with the return leg in Tel-Aviv four days later.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta BC), Andrea Seculin (ACF Fiorentina), Salvatore Sirigu (Ancona Calcio).

Defenders: Marco Andreolli (US Sassuolo Calcio), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa CFC), Domenico Criscito (Genoa CFC), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (S.S Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli FC), Marco Motta (Udinese Calcio), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari Calcio).

Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Torino FC) Francesco Bolzoni (FC Internazionale Milano), Antonio Candreva (AS Livorno Calcio), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta BC), Daniele Dessena (UC Sampdoria), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza Calcio).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari Calcio), Mario Balotelli (FC Internazionale Milano), Davide Lanzafame (US Città di Palermo), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (ACF Fiorentina).