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Italian coach names roster for England match
ROME (AP) -- Italy coach Cesare Maldini added some insurance at midfield but otherwise made no surprise call-ups Saturday in naming players for next weekend's crucial World Cup qualifier against England.Sticking to his policy of continuity, Maldini will use the same core of players he has chosen since taking over as coach last year. His son, Paolo, will anchor the defence, Demetrio Albertini will motor the midfield and Gianfranco Zola will spur the attack.
Maldini added extra back-ups at midfield, where Roberto Di Matteo and Antonio Conte are unavailable. Di Matteo is suspended after a red card in Italy's last qualifier -- a lackluster 0-0 draw at Georgia -- while Conte has an inflamed left Achilles' tendon.
Luigi Di Biagio and Eusebio Di Francesco, both with AS Roma in the Italian first division, bring depth to that sector and will compete with Attilio Lombardo for a starting spot alongside Albertini, Angelo Di Livio and Dino Baggio.
Roberto Baggio, who's not related to Dino, was not placed on the 22-player roster. He was Italy's hero at the 1994 World Cup but a series of injuries since have slowed him, and Maldini could not find a place for the playmaker as either a pure striker or attacking midfielder.
Instead, Maldini brought back AC Parma striker Enrico Chiesa for the game next Saturday at Rome's Olympic Stadium. It's likely that Zola will be paired with Christian Vieri or Pierluigi Casiraghi.
Baggio said Maldini called him two days ago to tell the player that he would not be selected now but will be considered for a roster spot if Italy reaches the World Cup.
"I'm out for this game, and obviously I'm a little disappointed, but Italy has the fortune of having many good forwards and playmakers right now," Baggio said.
Italy's draw at Georgia Sept. 10 dropped the Italians into second place in Group 2, behind England.
Trailing now by one point, Italy must defeat England to qualify for next summer's finals in France. A draw or loss forces Italy to win a playoff to qualify.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan