[U21] Santon lined up for Italy debut

Inter defender Davide Santon could make his Italy Under-21 debut on Tuesday after being named in Pierluigi Casiraghi's 19-man squad for the friendly against the Netherlands in Kerkrade.

The 18-year-old Santon made his Inter debut in January and has since established himself in Jose Mourinho's starting lineup, with ten appearances in Serie A, two in the UEFA Champions League and one in the Coppa Italia.

The Azzurrini will face hosts Sweden, Serbia and Belarus in Group A of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals in June.

Casiraghi has also called up four players – Lorenzo Ariaudo, Andrea Ranocchia, Andrea Poli and Davide Di Gennaro – from the team held 2-2 by Austria this week in a game involving players eligible for the 2011 tournament for the test against their Dutch counterpart.

The players will gather in Milan on Sunday evening before flying out to Kerkrade on Monday to prepare for Wednesday's match at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion, kicking off at 1945 UK time (+1hr for Italy/CET).

After the Netherlands match, Italy will take on Denmark on 9 June in their last pre-torunament friendly.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta), Salvatore Sirigu (Ancona).
Defenders: Lorenzo Ariaudo (Juventus), Andrea Criscito (Genoa), Lorenzo De Silvestri (Lazio), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Bari), Fabiano Santacroce (Napoli), Davide Santon (Inter).
Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Livorno), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele Dessena (Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza), Andrea Poli (Sasssuolo).
Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari), Mario Balotelli (Inter), Davide Di Gennaro (Reggina), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus).

Source: UEFA