U-21: Casiraghi names Euro squad

Azzurrini coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has named a preliminary squad for the European Under-21 Championship this summer.

The Finals will be held in the Netherlands from June 10 to 23 and five-time champions Italy will face England, Serbia and the Czech Republic in Group B.

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is the new face in the provisional 30-man squad, but that will be cut to 23 by May 30, when UEFA must receive the final squads of all teams taking part in the competition.

Marchisio, 21, has played 22 games in Serie B with the Bianconeri. "Being called up by the U21s is a dream come true," he said. "Unfortunately I'm recovering from a slight injury but coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has told me not to worry about that. I hope to convince him to take me to the Netherlands."

Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani returns to the fold after recovering from the knee problem which has forced him to miss the majority of the season.

The Azzurrini will play their first match on June 11 against Serbia in Nijmegen and will then play England and the Czech Republic on June 14 and 17 - both in Arnhem.

The winners and runners-up in each of the two groups will go through to the semi-finals, with the Final scheduled on June 23 at Groningen’s Euroborg Stadium.

Preliminary squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluca Curci (Roma), Emiliano Viviano (Brescia), Andrea Consigli (Sambenedettese).
Defenders: Marco Andreolli (Inter), Michele Canini (Cagliari), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Coda (Udinese), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Andrea Mantovani (Chievo), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Udinese), Alessandro Potenza (Fiorentina), Andrea Raggi (Empoli).
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Luca Cigarini (Parma), Raffaele De Martino (Udinese), Daniele Dessena (Parma), Andrea Lazzari (Piacenza), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Antonio Nocerino (Piacenza), Simone Padoin (Vicenza), Alessandro Rosina (Torino).
Strikers: Arturo Lupoli (Derby County), Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Gabriele Paonessa (Vicenza), Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina), Graziano Pelle (Cesena), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Parma).

[Fixture Schedule]