Lippi sticks with continuity for world cup

Italy coach Marcello Lippi opted against making wholesale changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Switzerland in August and named a largely unchanged squad to play the World Cup qualifiers away to Georgia in Tiblisi and at home to Bulgaria in Turin.

The world champions are one point above Ireland in their qualifying group with one game in hand and hope to gain some breathing space before a match between the sides in Dublin on October 10.

Daniele De Rossi and Nicola Legrottaglie return after missing the game in Basle and there is a first call up for Marco Marchionni following impressive displays for Fiorentina after his summer move from Juventus.

Domenico Criscito and Claudio Marchisio retain their spots after impressing in Switzerland.

In attack, Lippi has opted for Antonio Di Natale, who has returned from injury and leads the Italian league in scoring with three goals Udinese. He is joined by Fabio Quagliarella, who scored twice for Napoli against Livorno, and Vincenzo Iaquinta, who hit the winner for Juventus on the opening weekend.

Fabio Cannavaro is captain once more and will likely extend his Italian record of 127 caps.

Lippi will be hopeful that the understanding Cannavaro has struck up with Giorgio Chiellini since returning to Juventus will continue in a blue shirt and help Italy win its first match since the 3-1 victory over the United States on June 15.

--- Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari).

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter Milan), Domenico Criscito (Genoa).

Midfielders: Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Marco Marchionni (Fiorentina), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus).

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli).