Italy welcome back Gattuso for crucial World Cup qualifiers

Italy coach Marcello Lippi on Sunday named a 24-man squad for this month’s decisive World Cup qualifiers against Republic of Ireland and Cyprus.

World champions Italy travel to Dublin on October 10 where a draw will see them qualify for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

However, if they lose, they still have a chance to qualify if they beat Cyprus in Parma on October 14.

Lippi welcomes back AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso to the squad following injury while there were also recalls for defenders Salvatore Bocchetti of Genoa and Fiorentina’s Alessandro Gamberini.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was also selected even though he will be suspended for the game in Dublin.

Goalkeepers: Gigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso and Nicola Legrottaglie (all Juventus), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Davide Santon (Inter Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro German Camoranesi and Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Gaetano D’Agostino and Simone Pepe (Udinese)(Udinese), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Rino Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria)

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal/ESP)