Panucci recalled to Italian squad

ROME, Italy -- Veteran Roma defender Cristian Panucci has been recalled to the Italian squad for the first time in three years for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against France and Ukraine.

The 34-year-old, who has 48 caps but has not featured since June 2004, was named by coach Roberto Donadoni in a 25-man squad as a replacement for Marco Materazzi, who was injured in the 3-1 defeat by Hungary in August.

Cagliari midfielder Pasquale Foggia, who has scored three penalties in his last two Serie A games, is the other new name in the world champions' squad.

Roma midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta, who were both rested against Hungary, are included as is Juve's Mauro Camoranesi, who missed that game through injury.

In defence, 23-year-old Giorgio Chiellini, who scored the late goal in his team's 3-2 win over Cagliari on Sunday which kept the Turin giants on top, was chosen ahead of Cristian Zaccardo, who was part of the World Cup squad.

Another World Cup player, striker Alberto Gilardino, was also overlooked with former Serie A top scorer Cristiano Lucarelli, who plays for Shakthar Donetsk in Ukraine after leaving Livorno, being recalled.

Italy take on Group B rivals France at the San Siro in Milan on Saturday before travelling to face Ukraine in Kiev on the following Wednesday.

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Atletico Madrid), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentini), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Cagliari), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (Shakthar Donetsk), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich) E-mail to a friend