Italy name strong squad for Bafana friendly

By Nkareng Matshe and Sapa-AP

Bafana Bafana converge on Nuremburg, Germany, on Thursday for a camp ahead of their meeting with Italy next week, and the South Africans had better use the extra days' training to get sharper.

This because Italy have named a strong squad for the international friendly taking place in Siena next Wednesday. The Azzurri, however, first face Georgia in a crucial Euro 2008 Group B qualifier, and it is little wonder that Roberto Donadoni, the Italy coach, on Sunday announced a star-studded 22-man squad for the two matches.

It includes Andrea Pirlo, the AC Milan ace midfielder and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, of Juventus.

Reigning world player of the year and captain Fabio Canavaro has not been included in the squad because he is suspended for Saturday's clash with Georgia, although the Real Madrid defender may be free to join the camp for the match against South Africa.

Also missing out are Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi. Juventus captain Del Piero is at odds with Donadoni after issuing him with an ultimatum to use him as a forward or drop him from the side.

After leaving Del Piero on the bench against Ukraine, Donadoni has now decided to leave him out altogether.

World Cup-winning players Gianluca Zambrotta, Marco Materazzi and Mauro Camoranesi are also out, but Bafana will still have it tough against campaigners such as Gennaro Gattuso and Luca Toni.

Francesco Totti is not in the side as he has retired from international football.

Bafana's local-based squad members depart for Germany on Wednesday and will team up with their overseas colleagues on Thursday morning for a training camp at the Adidas headquarters in Nuremburg.

Orlando Pirates' Bennett Chenene and SuperSport United captain Ricardo Katza have been roped into the team in place of the injured Delron Buckley and Bradley Carnell.

Bafana will depart Germany for Rome and then Siena next Monday to play the world's number one-ranked team on October 17 at the Artemio Franchi Stadium (kickoff is 8.50pm).

Meanwhile, Bafana will play their Cosafa Cup final against Zambia on Wednesday October 24 at Bloemfontein's Vodacom Park. This should enable coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to have all local players available for selection.

Italy squad:

(to face Georgia and SA)

Goalkeepers:

Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluca Curci (AS Roma), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Defenders:

Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma)

Midfielders:

Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Stefano Mauri (Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Strikers:

Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Cristiano Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).