Azzuri turn to Pazzini

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called up in-form Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini for the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Republic of Ireland.

Pazzini, Roma defender Marco Motta and Genoa central defender Salvatore Bocchetti are the new faces in the squad named yesterday afternoon.

Pazzini has been in terrific form since joining Sampdoria from Fiorentina in January, scoring eight Serie A goals for the Genoa-based outfit.

The Azzurri party is lacking several familiar faces through injury, however. Defenders Nicola Legrottaglie and Daniele Bonera, midfielders Mauro Camoranesi, Alberto Aquilani and Simone Perrotta, strikers Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni are all sidelined.

Italy, who lead Group Eight on goal difference from Ireland, play in Montenegro next Saturday before hosting Ireland on April 1.

Italy squad: M Amelia (Palermo), G Buffon (Juventus), M De Sanctis (Galatasaray); S Bocchetti (Genoa), F Cannavaro (Real Madrid), G Chiellini (Juventus), A Dossena (Liverpool), A Gamberini (Fiorentina), F Grosso (Lyon), Motta (Roma), G Zambrotta (Milan); M Brighi (Roma), D De Rossi (Roma), P Foggia (Lazio), R Montolivo (Fiorentina), A Palombo (Sampdoria), A Pirlo (Milan); A Di Natale (Udinese), V Iaquinta (Juventus), G Pazzini (Sampdoria), Pepe (Udinese), F Quagliarella (Udinese), G Rossi (Villarreal).