Italy to field reserves in Croatia friendly

MILAN, Aug 14 (Reuters) World Cup winners Italy will field a reserve team in Wednesday's friendly against Croatia with none of the players who featured in their triumph in Germany involved.

New Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has left out all of the World Cup squad apart from third-choice keeper Marco Amelia, who did not play during the triumphant campaign in Germany.

Donadoni, who replaced Marcello Lippi after Italy's win over France in last month's World Cup final, has given seven players their first call-ups for the match in Livorno.

The home fans will have three of their favourites to watch.

As well as Amelia, striker Cristiano Lucarelli, who narrowly missed out on a place in the World Cup squad and midfielder Stefano Morrone are named in the squad.

Midfielders Massimo Ambrosini of AC Milan and Fabio Liverani of Fiorentina both get recalls after lengthy absences.

The Azzurri kick off their Euro 2008 Group B qualifying campaign against Lithuania on September 2.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Flavio Roma (Monaco) Defenders: Daniele Bonera (AC Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giulio Falcone (Sampdoria), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Christian Terlizzi (Palermo), Luciano Zauri (Lazio), Cristian Zenoni (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Gennaro Delvecchio (Sampdoria), Massimo Gobbi (Fiorentina), Fabio Liverani (Fiorentina), Stefano Morrone (Livorno), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Franco Semioli (Chievo).

Forwards: Andrea Caracciolo (Palermo), David Di Michele (Palermo), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Mauro Esposito (Cagliari), Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno), Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio).

REUTERS DH RN1600