WCQ 2010 - Europe

Lippi Calls Up Gattuso Replacement

After AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso suffered a bizarre hand injury at the weekend, National team coach Marcello Lippi has called up Palermo's Antonio Nocerino as his replacement...

Sep 8, 2008 12:12:59 AM

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Antonio Nocerino-italy

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Gennaro Gattuso dislocated his hand while falling into the dugout and will probably be unavailable for one month to both Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and Italian National Team selector, Marcello Lippi.

Italy took on Cyprus on Saturday, winning 2-1, but have another World Cup qualifying match this Wednesday against Georgia at the Stadio Fruili in Udine. Thus, Lippi has chosen to call up a replacement for the injured Gattuso in the form of Palermo's ball-winner Antonio Nocerino.

The 23-year-old was a key member of the Italian squad at the Olympics in Beijing. Nocerino already has one senior Italy cap to his name as he appeared in a friendly against South Africa last year. He arrived at Palermo this summer from Juventus, as part of the deal that sent Amauri on his way to Turin.

Italy have suffered several injuries over the last couple days as both Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini were forced to withdraw in the first half against Cyprus and will miss Wednesday's match as well, however Lippi has surprisingly not called up any replacements for the two defenders.

Nocerino will be keen to make an impression on Lippi, as several pundits have tipped him as someone who can be a key member of the national team in the future.

Adam Scime