Lippi turns to new faces

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has called up eight uncapped players for the friendly against Northern Ireland on June 6.

Inter Milan defender Santon, Siena midfielder Daniele Galloppa and strike duo Giuseppe Mascara (Catania) and Sergio Pellissier (Chievo) are among those included in the 21-man squad for the match in Pisa.

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been named despite missing most of the season with a knee injury, but there is still no place for controversial frontman Antonio Cassano.

Squad: Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari); Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Andrea Esposito (Lecce), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Santon (Inter Milan); Marco Biagianti (Catania), Matteo Brighi (Roma), Gaetano D’Agostino (Udinese), Daniele Galloppa (Siena), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria); Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Giuseppe Mascara (Catania), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Sergio Pellissier (Chievo), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).