Genoa striker Marco Borriello was handed his first Italy call-up by Roberto Donadoni for the friendly against Portugal in Zurich.

The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals in Serie A this season, including the penalty that gave his side a 2-1 win over Catania.

Donadoni upset media predictions that he would recall in-form Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero, who has not played for the world champions since his poor performance in a goalless Euro 2008 qualifier against France in September.

Antonio Cassano was also excluded from the 20-man squad, despite having shown some of the form that made him one of Italian soccer's brightest prospects since joining Sampdoria on loan from Real Madrid in the summer.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Giorgio Chiellini, along with Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, are unavailable because of injury.

Squad:

Marco Amelia (Livorno), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla); Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Marco Cassetti (Roma), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Marco Materazzi (Internazionale), Massimo Oddo (Milan), Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona); Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Franco Semioli (Fiorentina); Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).

Reuters