How ironic is it that just a few weeks after he swore oath on the Italian constitution thus receiving his long-awaited Italian passport, Amauri is not included in the 29 man list to take part in a 2 day training camp at La Borghesiana in Rome?
Taking into consideration the fact that players from Inter and Roma as well as Giuseppe Rossi from Villareal were not selected due to club commitments, this is surely the final nail in the coffin for Amauri's World Cup hopes. The same goes for the in-form Fabrizio Miccoli, as well as Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano, who if truth be told were never really in the running for a call up.
Amauri can have no complaints about his exclusion, but both Miccoli and Cassano have a right to feel hard done by. They are both spear-heading their respective clubs (Palermo and Sampdoria) fight for the final champions league spot in Serie A which will more than likely be decided when Samp travel to Palermo at the weekend.
Not that Cassano was under any illusions that Lippi was about to have a change of mind anyway. Ever the diplomat, only last week he was quoted as saying "My wedding is planned for June 19 and there is no way I would postpone my wedding. Not even a call-up for Italy's national side can change that".
Moving on to those who do have chance of making the squad lets break it down by positions:
Goalkeepers
Lippi has included 4 keepers in the training camp squad. Buffon is obviously first choice, which leaves Marchetti, De Sanctis and Sirigu to fight it out for the remaining 2 places.
Defenders
Zambrotta, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Criscito and Grosso are all guaranteed places. Maggio is slight favourite over Cassani as a back-up to Zambrotta, while Bonucci, has a better chance than Bocchetti of making it in as the fourth centre back.
Midfielders
Pirlo, Marchisio and De Rossi are guaranteed to be in the squad. This trio will more than likley be joined by Lippi's other stalwarts in Camoranesi and Gattuso which leaves 2 midfield places up for grabs
On the right wing, Pepe is favourite over Cossu and in central midfield, Palombo and Montolivo will fight it out for a spot, unless Lippi decides to take both at the expense of a defender. Candreva is an outsider due to lack of game time with Juventus.
Forwards
This is possibly the most interesting area of Lippi's squad. Gilardino, Iaquinta and Di Natale can be sure of their places but Pazzini and Borriello are still competing for the vice-Gilardino spot, however we can't rule out both being on the plane to South Africa. Thankfully, it's looking very doubtful that Luca Toni will make the squad. Anyone that remembers his performances at Euro 2008 will understand my sentiments.
So that leaves us with a place as an alternative 'seconda punta' or second striker to Di Natale. Quagliarella, Rossi and possibly even Totti will be taken into consideration here. Having seen Totti produce some moments of magic in recent weeks it is hard to ignore the genius of a player who didn't exactly set Germany 2006 alight, however, was without doubt an integral part of the team that went all the way.
The 29 players called up to the training camp:
Keepers: Buffon, De Sanctis, Marchetti, Sirigu.
Defenders: Bocchetti, Bonucci, Cannavaro, Cassani, Chiellini, Criscito, Grosso, Legrottaglie, Maggio, Zambrotta.
Midfielders: Camoranesi, Candreva, Cossu, Gattuso, Marchisio, Montolivo, Palombo, Pepe, Pirlo.
Forwards: Borriello, Di Natale, Gilardino, Iaquinta, Pazzini, Quagliarella.
