U21: Casiraghi shuffles his pack…

Italy Under-21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has named an experimental squad for the friendly against Luxembourg in Vibo Valentia on 12 December.

Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli, on loan at Derby County, is one of 12 new faces in the fold. Promising Juventus youngsters Paolo De Ceglie and Claudio Marchisio, as well as Raffaele De Martino of Udinese and Valerio Virga of Roma, are among the other debutants.

Empoli defender Lino Marzoratti had already been included once in the squad, but has never actually had a chance to play with the outfit.

The Azzurrini are preparing for the European Under-21's Championship in the Netherlands next summer, and Casiraghi says: "It will be a good opportunity to see players who will also be eligible for the Under-21s after the European Championship next summer."

The five-time champions will face England, Serbia and the Czech Republic in Group B.

Squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Gianluca Curci (Roma), Daniele Padelli (Crotone).
Defenders: Marco Andreolli (Inter), Michele Canini (Cagliari), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Udinese), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari).
Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Modena), Simone Bentivoglio (Modena), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Raffaele De Martino (Udinese), Marino Defendi (Atalanta), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Valerio Virga (Roma).
Strikers: Arturo Lupoli (Derby County), Michele Paolucci (Ascoli), Gabriele Paonessa (Vicenza), Nicola Pozzi (Empoli), Andrea Russotto (Treviso).

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