New Italy faces for Spain friendly

By Football Italia staff

Ciro Immobile, Gabriel Paletta and Mattia Perin get debut senior Italy calls, but Daniele De Rossi is excluded for the friendly with Spain.

The two nations who clashed in the Finals of both Euro 2012 and the 2013 European Under-21 Championships go head-to-head at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium on Wednesday.

The warm-up for the 2014 World Cup kicks off at 21.00 GMT.

Immobile earned his first senior call after scoring 12 Serie A goals for Torino this season, having previously been an Under-21 mainstay.

Parma defender Paletta has dropped many hints in recent months that, although born and raised in Argentina, he wished to represent the land of his forefathers.

It’s a surprise call for Genoa goalkeeper Perin, who can’t get playing time at Under-21 level because Livorno’s Francesco Bardi is preferred.

Roma forward Mattia Destro is given a recall in place of Mario Balotelli, who is suffering from a shoulder injury, having found his scoring touch after eight months out with a left knee injury.

De Rossi is dropped for breaking the code of ethics, as he is due to receive a lengthy ban using video evidence after he was caught on camera punching Mauro Icardi during last night’s 0-0 draw with Inter.

The Italy squad will meet up in Milan on Monday afternoon and immediately fly out to Madrid.

The game is on Wednesday night and the team flies back out from Madrid to Rome that same night.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain);

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit San Pietroburgo), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Paletta (Parma);

Midfielders: Candreva (Lazio), Giaccherini (Sunderland), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain), Parolo (Parma), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Paris Saint Germain);

Forwards: Cerci (Torino), Destro (Roma), Gilardino (Genoa), Immobile (Torino), Insigne (Napoli), Osvaldo (Juventus)

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow