[Euro U21] Paloschi steps up for Azzurrini

Italy coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has named Parma striker Alberto Paloschi in his 23-man squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, but there was no room for Inter full-back Davide Santon.

Santon made his debut for the Azzurrini in March after a standout first season with the Italian champions and on Friday the 18-year-old was called up by senior coach Marcello Lippi for the friendly against Northern Ireland on 6 June.

Casiraghi otherwise remained faithful to the group of players that earned qualification for the finals which begin on 15 June, with 19-year-old Paloschi the only addition.

The forward, who scored 18 seconds into his Serie A debut for AC Milan on 10 February last year, spent this season on loan at Parma where his 12 league goals helped the Ducali earn promotion to Serie A.

Italy, who will play Serbia, hosts Sweden and Belarus in Group A, face Denmark in a friendly in Farum on 9 June.

The squad will gather at La Borghesiana sports centre in Rome on Wednesday to begin their pre-tournament preparations. They will then travel to Helsingor (Denmark) for a week-long pre-tournament training camp starting on 8 June, before they travel to their tournament base in Helsingborg (Sweden) on 13 June.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta), Salvatore Sirigu (Cagliari), Andrea Seculin (Fiorentina).
Defenders: Marco Andreolli (Sassuolo), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Roma), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari), Andrea Ranocchia (Bari).
Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Torino), Antonio Candreva (Livorno), Alessio Cerci (Atalanta), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele Dessena (Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza), Andrea Poli (Sassuolo).
Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari), Mario Balotelli (Inter), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Alberto Paloschi (Parma).

[UEFA Euro U21 Championships 2009]

Source: UEFA