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Italy leave out Mario Balotelli and recall Simone Zaza

By Peter Gilbert

Sunday 6 November 2016 18:05, UK

Nice forward Mario Balotelli celebrates after scoring
Image: Mario Balotelli has failed to earn a recall from Italy boss Giampiero Ventura

Mario Balotelli has been overlooked by Italy for their World Cup Qualifier at Liechtenstein and a friendly at home to Germany.

Balotelli, who has not played for Italy since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, has been left out by coach Giampiero Ventura despite scoring seven goals in eight matches for Nice since joining from Liverpool in August

Italy's forward Simone Zaza reacts after missing a penalty during a penalty shootout of the Euro 2016 quarter-final football match between Germany and Ital
Image: Simone Zaza was widely ridiculed for his bizarre tippy-toe run-up in the penalty shoot-out against Germany at Euro 2016

Former Torino coach Ventura has instead recalled Simone Zaza to his 28-man squad despite the fact the former Juventus man has failed to find the net since joining West Ham in the summer.

Zaza, who has not scored since May and has only scored three goals this year, returns to the squad for the first time since his infamous penalty miss in the shoot-out defeat against Germany during Euro 2016.

Graziano Pelle also fails to feature in the squad after he was sent home for failing to shake Ventura's hand following his second-half substitution against Spain last month.

Inter Milan striker Eder, who usually plays alongside Pelle, is set to be partnered with either one of Serie A's two most on-form Italian strikers.

UDINE, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: Ciro Immobile of SS Lazio celebrates after scoring his opening goal during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SS Lazi
Image: In-form Ciro Immobile will be hoping to partner Eder in attack

Lazio's Ciro Immobile has hit nine goals this campaign, only one behind the league-leading tally of Roma's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko. Andrea Belotti, meanwhile, has found the net six times for Torino.

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In midfield, Ventura has recalled Claudio Marchisio, who has recently returned to the fray for Juventus following a six-month absence due to a knee injury.

Lazio midfielder Danilo Cataldi and Sassuolo winger Matteo Politano are also in the squad, but have yet to debut for the Azzurri.

Italy face Liechtenstein in Vaduz on November 12 in a World Cup Qualifier, and host Germany at Milan's San Siro ground three days later.

Watch Liechtenstein v Italy live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7.45pm on Saturday, November 12, via the Red Button.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa)

Defenders: Luca Antonelli (AC Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United/ENG), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Alessio Romagnoli (AC Milan), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Davide Zappacosta (Torino)

Midfielders: Giacomo Bonaventura (AC Milan), Antonio Candreva (Inter Milan), Danilo Cataldi (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Matteo Politano (Sassuolo), Nicola Sansone (Villarreal/ESP), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain/FRA)

Strikers: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Eder (Inter Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Napoli), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa), Simone Zaza (West Ham/ENG)