Mario Balotelli not included in Italy squad

By Kristian Johnson, Reporter | 31 August 2014

New Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is not included in Antonio Conte's first Italy squad for forthcoming games against Netherlands and Norway.

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has not been included in Antonio Conte's first Italy squad.

Andrea Pirlo and Riccardo Montolivo are also not in the squad after picking up injuries.

Conte was appointed as the national manager following the departure of Cesare Prandelli after the 2014 World Cup, and has named his first 27-man squad for a forthcoming friendly with the Netherlands and a Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway.

Balotelli would have been available for the friendly, but after picking up two yellow cards in three World Cup matches, he is suspended for the game away in Norway next week.

Conte has selected six forwards in the squad, including Ciro Immobile, Stephan El Shaarawy and Sassuolo's uncapped striker Simone Zaza.

Sunderland midfielder Emmanuele Giaccherini is the only England-based player in the Italy squad.

Italy squad in full: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Daniele Padelli (Torino), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain); Davide Astori (Roma), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gabriel Paletta (Parma), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter); Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Andrea Poli (Milan), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain); Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Shaarawy (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Borussia Dortmund), Pablo Osvaldo (Inter), Simone Zaza (Sassuolo)