Donadoni names two new faces to play Scots

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has handed first call-ups to Roma defender Max Tonetto and Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland.

With injuries keeping Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Grosso out of contention, Tonetto has been included in Donadoni's 25-man squad for the encounter in Bari's Stadio San Nicola on March 28.

Tonetto is a late-comer to the international scene at the age of 32. He has been a regular for Roma this season in Serie A and the Champions League.

The absence of striker Vincenzo Iaquinta through injury and playmaker Francesco Totti, who is unavailable for national team duty until September, has forced Donadoni to call on the services of 23-year-old Quagliarella.

The Samp hitman has scored 11 league goals this season including one in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Palermo.

Post-World Cup picks Tommaso Rocchi of Lazio, Chievo’s Franco Semioli, on-form Udinese star Antonio Di Natale and Lazio's creative midfielder Stefano Mauri retain their spots. Milan’s Daniele Bonera is also included in the squad.

The good news for Donadoni is that captain Fabio Cannavaro will be available having shaken off a muscular injury.

The Azzurri will begin training at their Coverciano headquarters in Florence on Monday morning for four days of work, will have the weekend free and return together on Monday.

The World Champions are currently two points behind Group B leaders France and Scotland after four games played.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Christian Abbiati (Torino).

Defenders: Max Tonetto (Roma), Massimo Oddo (Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Daniele Bonera (Milan), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Stefano Mauri (Lazio), Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennnaro Gattuso (Milan), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Franco Semioli (Chievo), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus).

Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio), Luca Toni (Fiorentina), Alberto Gilardino (Milan), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese).


Alex McLeish named a 26-man squad for his first games in charge of Scotland in the qualifiers against Georgia and the Azzurri on 24 and 28 March.

Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Neil Alexander (Cardiff City), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Allan McGregor (Rangers), Iain Turner (Everton).

Defenders: Graham Alexander (Preston North End), Russell Anderson (Aberdeen), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Christian Dailly (West Ham), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Jackie McNamara (Wolverhampton), Graeme Murty (Reading), Gary Naysmith (Everton), Steven Pressley (Celtic), David Weir (Rangers).

Midfielders: Scott Brown (Hibernian), Chris Burke (Rangers), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Lee McCulloch (Wigan), Nigel Quashie (West Ham), Scott Severin (Aberdeen), Gary Teale (Derby County).

Forwards: Craig Beattie (Celtic), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa), Kenny Miller (Celtic).