Donadoni defends Italy squad

Florence - Italy coach Roberto Donadoni defended his squad selection for Saturday's European Championship qualifier against Georgia.

"It's difficult to leave anyone at home," Donadoni said Tuesday at the Coverciano training camp. "I always make my decisions on the basis of the game and the conditions of the moment."

Donadoni has omitted strikers Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi and Alberto Gilardino - all three of whom were part of Italy's squad that won the 2006 World Cup under former coach Marcello Lippi.

Del Piero issued an ultimatum to Donadoni to use him as a forward or not at all after failing to shine as an attacking midfielder in a 0-0 draw with France on September 8.

Donadoni then left Del Piero on the bench in a 2-1 victory at Ukraine on September 12 and has now left him out altogether.

"As long as Del Piero is up to it, he has to show, like all the others, that he is in condition," Donadoni said. "At 33, it takes more effort to produce certain things than at 27. But my choices are never personal. They take account of the balance of a group."

The six forwards in Donadoni's 22-man squad are Luca Toni, who missed the victory at Ukraine with a thigh injury, Antonio Di Natale, scorer of both goals in that match, Pasquale Foggia, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Cristiano Lucarelli and Fabio Quagliarella.

Toni was expected to lead an attacking trident, flanked by Di Natale and Iaquinta. However, Iaquinta - who has been keeping Del Piero out of Juventus' starting lineup - did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and underwent a scan on a bruised knee, which he sustained during the Bianconeri's 1-1 draw at Fiorentina at the weekend.

"Iaquinta has taken a blow to the knee joint and there is a bit of fluid," Italy team physician Andrea Ferretti was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. "We hope to get Iaquinta back but he must rest now. We will see if (for) one, two or three days."

Midfielder Massimo Ambrosini also missed the morning session with a thigh complaint but media reports said it was not serious.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is suspended for the match in Genoa. Defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Marco Materazzi, and midfielders Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta and Alberto Aquilani are all injured.

That has allowed former Italy Under-21 midfielder Riccardo Montolivo to make his first appearance with the senior squad.

"All kids dream of becoming a national player. Mine is to become Italy No 8," the 22-year-old Montolivo said. "I know it will take time, but in the meantime I will enjoy this call up."

With three games to play, Scotland leads Group B with 21 points, followed by Italy with 20 and France with 19. Georgia is sixth with seven points.

The top two nations in each group qualify for next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. - Sapa-AP