[U21] Italy check out U21 stars of tomorrow

Pierluigi Casiraghi has offered a glimpse of Italy Under-21s future after naming a squad made up entirely of players who will be eligible for the 2011 UEFA U21 European Championship for their friendly game against Austria next week.

Only six members of the 19-man party have played at U21 level before: Francesco Bolzoni, Alberto Paloschi, Davide Di Gennaro, Andrea Poli, Andrea Ranocchia and Andrea Seculin.

The match against Austria on 25 March was part of an Under-20 four-nation tournament, but will be used by Casiraghi to bring through youngsters for the next U21 cycle that begins in September.

Italy are in Group 3 for the 2009-2011 qualifying campaign and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Luxembourg and Wales in the race to reach the 2011 finals in Denmark.

The players will gather in Milan on Sunday evening before flying out to Vienna on Monday to prepare for Wednesday's match at the Franz Furst Stadion, kicking off at 1700 UK time (+1hr for Italy/CET).

A stronger Azzurrini squad, one likely to provide the majority of candidates for the 2009 finals in Sweden in June, will meet the Netherlands in a friendly on 31 March.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Vincenzo Fiorillo (Sampdoria), Andrea Seculin (Fiorentina).
Defenders: Lorenzo Ariaudo (Juventus), Giuseppe Bellusci (Ascoli), Alessandro Crescenzi (Roma), Matteo Darmian (Milan), Alessandro Malomo (Roma), Andrea Ranocchia (Bari), Francesco Renzetti (Albinoleffe).
Midfielders: Antonino Barilla (Reggina), Francesco Bolzoni (Inter), Ivan Castiglia (Cittadella), Michael Cia (Triestina), Davide Di Gennaro (Reggina), Cristian Pasquato (Empoli), Andrea Poli (Sassuolo).
Forwards: Ciro Immobile (Juventus), Ettore Mendicino (Lazio), Alberto Paloschi (Parma).

Source: UEFA