Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Mario Balotelli left out of Italy squad for Euro 2016 qualifiers

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been left out of Italy's latest squad by new coach Antonio Conte.

Balotelli, 24, was overlooked by Conte on the same day that he was dropped to the bench by Liverpool for their 2-1 Premier League win against West Brom.

Striker Graziano Pelle, who has scored five goals in eight matches since joining Southampton, has been given his first Azzurri call up.

Italy face Azerbaijan and Malta in Euro 2016 qualifying next week.

Balotelli, who has scored once in eight appearances for the Reds this season, was also left out of ex-Juventus boss Conte's squad for the opening qualifier against Norway last month.

The ex-Manchester City and AC Milan striker has won 33 caps for Italy, scoring 13 goals.
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Perin (Genoa), Sirigu (Paris St-Germain).
 
Defenders: Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Ogbonna (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Rugani (Empoli).
 
Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Bonaventura (AC Milan), Candreva (Lazio), Darmian (Torino), De Sciglio (AC Milan), Florenzi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Motta (Paris St-Germain), Parolo (Lazio), Pasqual (Fiorentina), Poli (AC Milan), Verratti (Paris St-Germain).
 
Forwards: Destro (Roma), Giovinco (Juventus), Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Osvaldo (Inter Milan), Pelle (Southampton), Zaza (Sassuolo).

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