[U21 Play-off] Casiraghi calls reinforcements

Italy Under-21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has had to call up four new players for the second leg of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off in Israel to deal with injuries and suspensions.

The Azzurrini will be without the injured Marco Andreolli and Paolo De Ceglie, plus the suspended Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Daniele Dessena for the second leg tie in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Casiraghi had already placed a call to bring in Atalanta's Daniele Capelli and Matteo Rubin of Torino earlier today and now he has brought in Reggina striker Davide Di Gennaro and Vicenza's Davide Bottone to bolster the squad.


Yesterday's 0-0 draw at the Stadio Del Conero in Ancona leaves qualification for next summer's European Championship Finals in the balance.

Inter star Mario Balotelli, who missed the first leg with a flu virus, is expected to recover in time for Wednesday.

Failure for the five-time European champions to reach the competition finals in Sweden would most likely spell the end for Casiraghi's time as Under-21 coach, as he was already under pressure from poor performances at the 2007 finals in the Netherlands and an early exit from this year's Beijing Olympic Games.

Source: C4 Football Italia