Cassano, Di Natale earn Italy call-up

AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano and Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale have both been named in Italy’s provisional 31-man squad for Euro 2012.

Cassano features in coach Cesare Prandelli’s squad despite spending most of the campaign on the sidelines recovering from surgery on a heart problem.

Rubin Kazan defender Salvatore Bocchetti and Udinese striker Di Natale are also on the roster despite not having been called up by Prandelli before.

Pescara’s Marco Verratti, Bologna midfielder Alessandro Diamanti, Siena striker Mattia Destro, Juventus’ Emanuele Giaccherini and Atalanta winger Ezequiel Schelotto could debut for the national team at senior level after being called up for the first time.

Prandelli will announce the final 23-man squad for Euro 2012 on May 29. Italy have been drawn with Spain, Republic of Ireland and Croatia for Poland and Ukraine.

Prior to the tournament, Italy will play two friendly matches, against Luxembourg and Russia.

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

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

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

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