Del Piero back in Italy squad for Ireland game

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero is back in the Italy squad for the first time in almost a year after being selected for Wednesday's friendly match against Ireland.

There was no place for Roma forward Antonio Cassano whose troubled relationship with his club during the close season appears to have caused Lippi to leave him out of the travelling party for the game in Dublin.

Del Piero's last appearance for Italy came in September last year when he scored in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win away to Moldova.

Injuries and a loss of form kept Del Piero out of Lippi's side subsequently but he ended last season well for Italian champions Juventus and has looked sharp in pre-season.

Del Piero is by no means guaranteed a starting place, however.

Lippi has included Roma's Francesco Totti and Milan pair Christian Vieri and Alberto Gilardino while Fiorentina forward Luca Toni and Udinese target man Vincenzo Iaquinta are also hoping for a place in the front line.

The Italy coach has rated Cassano as one of his brightest hopes for next year's World Cup finals in Germany should Italy, as expected, qualify.

A surprise inclusion in Lippi's squad is Reggina midfielder Giandomenico Mesto who impressed during June friendly games against Serbia and Montenegro and Ecuador.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Udinese), Roma (Monaco).

Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Juventus), Grosso (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Nesta (Milan), Zaccardo (Palermo), Zambrotta (Juventus).

Midfielders: Barone (Palermo), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Diana (Sampdoria), Gattuso (Milan), Mesto (Reggina), Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Del Piero (Juventus), Gilardino (Milan), Iaquinta (Udinese), Toni (Fiorentina), Totti (Roma), Vieri (Milan).

Rumours linking Juve with a swoop for Antonio Cassano were rife yesterday with Lapo Elkann - the Fiat Promotion Manager - telling journalists the Turin giants wanted to sign the Roma striker. "Juve want to win everything and in order to do that they need Cassano," he said. "If we don't get him now, we'll sign him in 2006 on a free transfer." Bari-born Cassano is reported to be unsettled at Roma and has had a tense pre-season with club officials trying to persuade him to extend his deal in the capital.