Cigarini makes Serbia trip

5 October 2011 04:27

Italy have already secured their place at Euro 2012, but they face a Serbia side on Friday who still much to play for.

Cesare Prandelli's side top Group C of qualifying with 22 points, but second place is still to be decided.

Serbia inhabit that with 14 points, though Estonia (13), Slovenia (11) and Northern Ireland (nine) still maintain some semblance of hope for qualification.

Prandelli has handed a first call up for Atalanta midfielder Luca Cigarini, who could make his debut aged 25 after representing his country at various underage levels.

"Well, at the beginning I didn't thought this could happen, but hope springs eternal," Cigarini said on Tuesday.

"We have started very well, so this could be seen as a prize for me and for the team, for what Atalanta has done up to now. "

"There are many interesting players: (Andrea) Pirlo, (Daniele) De Rossi, (Alberto) Aquilani, (Riccardo) Montolivo ... everyone in the team. I'm happy to be part of this team and I hope I'll be able to remain, but of course it depends on the coach."

When the two countries met in November 2010 in Genoa, the match was abandoned after crowd trouble and UEFA awarded the home side a 3-0 win.

Italy have doubts over the fitness Palermo's Federico Balzaretti and Inter forward Giampaolo Pazzini for the Serbia clash the encounter with Northern Ireland on Tuesday.