Injury rules Inzaghi out of Italy plans

FILIPPO INZAGHI is the notable omission from the Italy squad named for Euro 2004 by Giovanni Trapattoni yesterday.

Italy’s front line was Trapattoni’s big dilemma as Inzaghi, the Azzurri’s highest scorer with six goals in five appearances in the qualifying games, was struggling with an ankle injury.

He has decided not to risk “Super Pippo” and opted for Juve forward Marco Di Vaio instead.

Parma’s highly-rated Alberto Gilardino, considered by some the best candidate to replace Inzaghi, has not been included despite scoring 23 goals, one behind Serie A’s top scorer Andrei Shevchenko.

However, Roma prodigy Antonio Cassano has made the cut along with Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero, despite a season plagued by muscle injuries.

There were no surprises in defence with Inter’s Marco Materazzi taking the last place ahead of Juve’s Nicola Legrottaglie, who has had a dismal first season in Turin.

Italy begin training next week at Coverciano near Florence before playing their last friendly, away from home against African champions Tunisia on May 30, ahead of their trip to Lisbon.

ITALY squad: Buffon (Juventus), Toldo (Inter Milan), Peruzzi (Lazio); Cannavaro (Inter Milan), Favalli (Lazio), Ferrari (Parma), Materazzi (Inter Milan), Nesta (AC Milan), Oddo (Lazio), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Juventus); Camoranesi (Juventus), Fiore (Lazio), Gattuso (AC Milan), Perrotta (Chievo), Pirlo (AC Milan), Zanetti (Inter Milan); Cassano (Roma), Corradi (Lazio), Del Piero (Juventus), Di Vaio (Juventus), Totti (Roma), Vieri (Inter Milan).