Rossi called up by Lippi but Piero left out

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-06 10:13

ROME -- Italy coach Marcello Lippi has included young Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi in his 23-man squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria on October 11 and Montenegro on 15 while veteran Alessandro Del Piero was left out.

Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi (C) tries to get past Celtic's goalkeeper Artur Boruc and Lee Naylor (R) during their Champions League soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, September 30, 2008. [Agencies]

Besides Rossi, Napoli defender Fabiano Santacroce, teammate Christian Maggio and Udinese forward Simone Pepe were also named in an Italy squad for the first time as coach Marcello Lippi rang the changes.

This happened after defenders Marco Materazzi, Nicola Legrottaglie, Marco Cassetti, Fabio Grosso, midfielder Andrea Pirlo and strikers Vincenzo Iaquinta and Marco Borriello were all on the sidelines.

Former Manchester United player Rossi has won a spot in the squad after impressing Lippi when playing for the under-23 side at August's Beijing Olympics.

He scored 11 goals in 23 league matches for Villarreal last season and has already hit the mark this season with one goal in two games after an injury interrupted start to the campaign.

Piero, 33, was continually overlooked by previous Italy coach Roberto Donadoni but forced his way into the Euro 2008 squad.

Defending champions Italy is now leading Group Eight after winning their first two qualifiers against Cyprus and Georgia.