Italy coach Marcello Lippi named AC Milan ace Filippo Inzaghi and Udinese striker Vincenzo Iaquinta in Italy's squad for the FIFA 2006 World Cup. The 32-year-old Inzaghi, who has not played for the national team since October 2003, imposed himself on Lippi with a series of spectacular performances with the Rossoneri this season. The 23-man squad that was announced by Lippi on Monday did not include Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano and Livorno's Cristiano Lucarelli. After scoring 19 goals in Serie A this season, Lucarelli was tipped to join the Azzuri squad in Germany after an impressive performance this season saw him score 19 goals in the Serie A. Cassano was also snubbed by Lippi after the former Roma goal-getter failed to secure a starting place in the Real line-up since joining them in January. "I feel sorry for all the players who haven't made the squad, but they are intelligent enough to understand my choices," Lippi was quoted as saying by Football Italia magazine. Christian Vieri, who had to undergo a knee operation, and Sampdoria midfielder Aimo Diana are out of the squad and won't make the World Cup due to their long term injuries. "Of course we are sad for Vieri and Diana, but we are going to Germany to do some nice things, of course we will need some luck but I remain hopeful," he added. Lippi also called his first choice keeper Gianluigi Buffon, despite allegations that the Juventus guardian bet on football matches.
Buffon If found guilty, Buffon will not be playing in the World Cup, however, Lippi insisted that such incident would not affect the seasoned keeper. "Buffon is an individual of seriousness and great personality, there was no reason to exclude him from the squad," Lippi said. "I have spoken to the player and I don't think that the affair will distract him," he added. Italy is drawn in Group E alongside Ghana, Czech Republic and United States and will be playing their first game on June 12th against Ghana. Italy's squad: Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio), Marco Amelia (Livorno). Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Andrea Barzagli and Fabio Grosso and Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter), Massimo Oddo (Lazio). Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta (Roma), Simone Barone (Palermo). Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Francesco Totti (Roma), Luca Toni (Fiorentina), Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese).
