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Balotelli axed by Azzurri

Image: Balotelli: Dropped by Italy

Man City striker Mario Balotelli has been dropped from the Italy squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine.

Prandelli names squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has been dropped from the Italy squad to face Slovenia and Ukraine. Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli has named his 25-man party for the Euro 2012 qualifier away to Slovenia on 25th March and the friendly with Ukraine four days later. There is no place for Balotelli in Prandelli's selection, with reports suggesting he has been dropped following his red card against Dynamo Kiev in midweek. Meanwhile, there is also no place for Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi who is serving a European club ban for a reckless elbow on Darijo Srna during the UEFA Champions League last 16 tie with Shakhtar Donetsk. Antonio Cassano makes the squad, Cesena midfielder Marco Parolo is called up for the first time while Inter Milan's Thiago Motta keeps his place.
Italy squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo), Emiliano Viviano (Bologna). Defenders: Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Palermo), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Davide Santon (Cesena). Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Stefano Mauri (Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter Milan), Antonio Nocerino (Palermo), Marco Parolo (Cesena). Forwards: Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Sebastian Giovinco (Parma), Alessandro Matri (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Inter Milan), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).

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