Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has defended his decision to include Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci in his Euro 2012 squad.

I reiterate that Bonucci has not received any type of notification from the prosecutors’ office- Prandelli

Bonucci is expected to face questioning in the latest match-fixing investigation to hit the country with prosecutors interested in his time as a Bari player in the 2009-10 campaign.

However, he is not under any formal investigation at this stage and has denied any wrongdoing.

Italy omitted Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito from the squad on Monday after he was handed an official notification by the police at the Azzurri’s training headquarters in Coverciano, Florence, of being under investigation.

“The most annoying thing is that some people have linked Bonucci’s issue with that of Criscito,” Prandelli said to Italian TV station Rai.

“I reiterate that Bonucci has not received any type of notification from the prosecutors’ office. This is why he will come with us to the European Championship.”

The tournament will be played in Poland and Ukraine.

In 2006, a match-fixing scandal was a dark cloud over the Azzurri and Juventus were eventually relegated and stripped of two league titles after being found guilty of influencing referees.

Even so, the Italians won the World Cup in Germany.

“We want to play, to win and to come out clean,” Prandelli said.

“The similarities with that of 2006 are there but they say in the difficult times the group unites.

“I hope that will be the case but I don’t believe in the theory that says that Italians only emerge in times of crisis. We also rise in times of calmness.

“Now the important thing is to make people understand our intention and that is to clean up football.”

The country of Italy, meanwhile, has been rocked by an earthquake in the northern region of Emilia Romagna yesterday morning.

At least 16 people are known to have died in the 5.8 magnitude quake – the second to take place in the space of nine days in the same region.

Italy’s friendly against Luxembourg in Parma that was due to be played last night was called off.

Prandelli said there were more important things in life than a football match.

“There are situations that make you think and make you realise there are worse things in life (than cancelling a game),” he said.

The Azzurri will face Russia in Zurich in a friendly on Friday.

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia and Siena striker Mattia Destro will not be travelling to Switzerland as they were dropped from the squad yesterday after coach Prandelli announced his final 23-man roster.