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Gilardino and Pazzini recalled for Italy qualifiers

The duo, part of the squad which flopped at the World Cup under Marcello Lippi, were omitted from new coach Cesare Prandelli's first squad for the friendly defeat by Ivory Coast this month but return with Amauri and Mario Balotelli injured.

Prandelli has also handed first call-ups to Parma defender Luca Antonelli, Palermo centre-back Cesare Bovo, Sampdoria defender Daniele Gastaldello and Fiorentina fullback Lorenzo De Silvestri.

Andrea Pirlo, a 2006 World Cup winner who also featured in June's debacle in South Africa, returns to the squad after finding full fitness but there is again no place for former stalwarts Antonio Di Natale and Gianluca Zambrotta.