U21: Casiraghi names Azzurrini 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.

The Fiorentina striker is one of two new faces in Pierluigi Casiraghi's 22-man squad along with Pisa sensation Alessio Cerci.

Osvaldo, 21, has scored twice in three Serie A appearances for the Viola this season while 20-year-old Cerci has hit seven goals in Serie B for Pisa while on loan from Roma.

The Azzurrini, Group 1 leaders, are without Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi, who is out for six weeks with a knee injury and Torino defender Matteo Rubin. They face Azerbaijan in Fermo on 16 November and the Faroese in Torshavn five days later.

Italy Under-21 squad:
Goalkeepers: Enrico Alfonso (Inter), Andrea Consigli (Rimini), Salvatore Sirigu (Cremonese).
Defenders: Domenico Criscito (Juventus), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Torino), Marco Rossi (Parma), Fabiano Santacroce (Brescia).
Midfielders: Francesco Bolzoni (Inter), Luca Cigarini (Parma), Paolo De Ceglie (Siena), Daniele Dessena (Parma), Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli), Claudio Marchisio (Empoli), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza), Gabriele Paonessa (Avellino), Andrea Russotto (Treviso).
Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari), Alessio Cerci (Pisa), Pablo Daniel Osvaldo (Fiorentina), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli).

Group 1 Fixtures:
Italy v Azerbaijan (16/11/2007)
Faroe Islands v Albania (17/11/2007)
Greece v Croatia (17/11/2007)
Azerbaijan v Croatia (21/11/2007)
Faroe Islands v Italy (21/11/2007)
Greece v Albania (21/11/2007)

Group 1 Table:
[1] ITA - PLD: 05 - PTS: 13
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[2] CRO - PLD: 06 - PTS: 12
[3] GRE - PLD: 05 - PTS: 10
[4] ALB - PLD: 05 - PTS: 07
[5] FAR - PLD: 06 - PTS: 03
[6] AZE - PLD: 05 - PTS: 01

Source: UEFA / FIGC