Skuad Sementara Timnas Italia di Euro 2012

Roma - Cesare Prandelli telah mengumumkan skuad sementara timnas Italia untuk Piala Eropa 2012. Dari 32 pemain yang dia pilih, terdapat nama Mario Balotelli dan Antonio Cassano.

Balotelli dan Cassano sebenarnya sempat terancam tak masuk skuad dengan alasan yang berbeda. Balotelli pernah membuat Prandelli tidak senang karena perilaku bengalnya, sedangkan Cassano sempat lama absen karena masalah kesehatan.

Untuk posisi pemain depan, selain Balotelli dan Cassano, Prandelli juga memanggil pemain gaek Antonio Di Natale. Dua pemain muda, Fabio Borini dan Sebastian Giovinco, juga dia beri kesempatan.

Juventus menjadi penyumbang pemain terbanyak untuk skuad Gli Azzurri ini dengan jumlah tujuh pemain. Sementara itu, AC Milan mengirimkan tiga pemainnya.

Di antara 32 pemain ini, ada lima pemain yang sama sekali belum pernah membela timnas, yakni Mattia Destro, Emanuele Giaccherini, Ezequiel Schelotto, Luca Cigarini, dan Marco Verratti. Verratti jadi salah satu di antara dua pemain Seri B yang masuk skuad, selain Angelo Ogbonna.

Dari 32 pemain ini, hanya ada 23 pemain yang berangkat ke Polandia-Ukraina, yang paling lambat diumumkan pada 29 Mei.

Italia masuk Grup C di Piala Eropa 2012. Mereka tergabung bersama juara bertahan Spanyol, Republik Irlandia, dan Kroasia.

Skuad sementara Italia:

Kiper: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo).

Bek: Cristian Maggio (Napoli), Domenico Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Ignazio Abate (Milan), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Salvatore Bocchetti (Rubin Kazan), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino).

Gelandang: Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Antonio Nocerino (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Ezequiel Schelotto (Atalanta) Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Marco Verratti (Pescara).

Penyerang: Antonio Cassano (Milan), Mario Balotelli (Manchester City), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Mattia Destro (Siena), Fabio Borini (Roma).

Prandelli wants Cassano for Euro 2012

koclokindoblog, 27 April 2012 , Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has hinted Antonio Cassano will be included in his Euro 2012 squad, and is satisfied with the striker's condition.

The Azzurri boss watched Cassano train with his Milan team-mates to check up on the forward, who returned to action earlier in April after being sidelined since October following an emergency heart procedure.

Cassano played a major role in Italy's qualification for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, so the fact that he is now working his way back to full fitness is a major boost.

"I can see that he is playing more and more, and that's important for a quality player like him," the former Fiorentina coach told Milan Channel.

"I thing he's doing very well. I came here to see exactly that and I'm satisfied."

Cassano has made three substitute appearances for the Rossoneri since making his comeback in their loss to Fiorentina on April 7.

 

soccerway.com

Cassano details Iniesta support

koclokindoblog, 7 April 2012,

Antonio Cassano received a phone call from Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta prior to undergoing minor heart surgery in November.

Cassano's career appeared to be jeopardy when he suffered cerebral ischemia on the flight home from AC Milan's 3-2 win over Roma on October 29.

The 29-year-old striker is on course to make a full recovery, and said the compassion shown to him by his fellow professionals aided his recovery.

"Iniesta called me (before my operation)," Cassano told Studio Sport.

"It was then when I realised how many people cared about me."

Cassano was given the green light to resume his football career on Tuesday after passing his latest round of medical examinations, and the Italy international has said his main priority now is to make sure he can restore his reputation in the game.

"I want people to remember the good Cassano, not the one who provoked sympathy," he said.

"To hurt others is what I hate most."

soccerway.com

Prandelli buoyed by Cassano news

koclokindoblog, 3 April 2012,

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is delighted that Antonio Cassano is poised to make his return to first-team action with AC Milan.

The Milan striker, who played an integral role in his country's qualification for Euro 2012, has not played since having an emergency heart procedure last November after falling ill following his club's Serie A clash with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

It was initially feared that Cassano would not feature again this season but he could play some part in Milan's meeting with Fiorentina this weekend.

"I've very happy," Prandelli told reporters on Monday.

"I cannot say anything other than I'm just very happy."

Prandelli also had grounds to smile after learning that league officials have agreed to his request for a training camp at the end of the month.

The Azzurri boss had been hoping to hold several sessions in March and April but Serie A's finest rejected that idea.

However, a compromise agreement has been reached which will see clubs release their players for a two-day training camp on April 23-24.

Italy have been drawn in a group with Spain, Republic of Ireland and Croatia for Euro 2012.

soccerway.com