Cannavaro & Zambrotta Call For Del Piero Return

Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluca Zambrotta have put pressure on Azzurri Coach Roberto Donadoni to take Alessandro Del Piero to Euro 2008.

The Golden Boy has not played for Italy since the European qualifier with France last September.

The 33-year-old has been in stunning form for Juventus in the last couple of months and was expected to win a recall for tonight’s friendly with Portugal in Zurich.

However he was surprisingly omitted from the 20-man squad, with Donadoni selecting Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale, Fabio Quagliarella, Marco Borriello and Raffaele Palladino as his five forwards.

Del Piero has refused to panic over the situation and reports suggest that he is still confident of winning his place back before the European Championships in June.

He certainly has two high-profile supporters in the form of captain Fabio Cannavaro and full-back Gianluca Zambrotta.

“Alex is a champion who can be very useful to the group,” stated Cannavaro.

"Mister Donadoni has not yet made final decisions. But I hope that Alex will be at the European Championships. He is important for us," Zambrotta added.

Donadoni is expected to play Palladino, Di Natale and Toni in a forward trident against Portugal.

Probable Line-Up: Amelia; Oddo, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Pirlo, Perrotta; Palladino, Di Natale, Toni

Thanks !

You're welcome & thanks

Thanks Luno and Aga!

Thank you very much Laudy Bonera

Real Madrid vs. Valladolid

Goalkeepers: Casillas and Dudek

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Michel Salgado, and Marcelo

Midfielders: Guti, Gago, Diarra, Balboa, Robben, and Drenthe

Forwards: Robinho, Higuain, Baptista, Soldado, and Raul

Thanks Luno!

You're welcome Laudy Bonera and thanks for yours

REAL MADRID - 7: Casillas, Míchel Salgado, Sergio Ramos (Diarra, 57’), Cannavaro, Marcelo, Robinho (Drenthe, 15’), Gago (Soldado, 74’), Guti, Robben, Baptista, and Raúl.

REAL VALLADOLID - 0: Asenjo, Marcos, García Calvo, Rafa, Pedro López, Álvaro Rubio, Vivar Dorado, Capdevila (Óscar Sánchez, 57’), Víctor (Borja, 45’), Sisi (Sesma, 72’), and Llorente.

GOALS:

1-0, (Min. 9) Baptista

2-0, (Min. 30) Raúli

3-0, (Min. 32) Robben

4-0, (Min. 38) Raúl

5-0, (Min. 44) Guti

6-0, (Min. 62) Guti

7-0, (Min. 79) Drenthe.

REFEREE: Ramírez Domínguez. Booked Sergio Ramos (22’) and Asenjo (38’)

NOTES: La Liga Matchday 23 played at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Thanks Laudy Bonera

Betis vs. Real Madrid

Goalkeepers: Casillas and Dudek

Defenders: Ramos, Cannavaro, Miguel Torres, Salgado, and Marcelo

Midfielders: Guti, Gago, Diarra, Robben, Balboa, and Drenthe

Forwards: Saviola, Raul, Van Nistelrooy, Higuain, and Soldado

2 - Betis: Ricardo; Damia, Juanito, Melli, Fernando Vega; Arzu, Rivera, Capi (Sobis, 59'), Mark Gonzalez; Edu (Caffa, 88') & Pavone (Juande, 73').

1 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo; Gago, Guti, Drenthe (Van Nistelrooy, 57'), Robben; Baptista (Higuain, 68') & Raul (Balboa, 77').

REFEREE: Undiano Mallenco. Booked Gago (37'), Marcelo (39'), Arzu (53'), Baptista (62'), Robben (65'), Ramos (73'), Melli (90') & Rivera (90').

GOALS:

0-1 (6'): Robben.

1-1 (33'): Pavone.

2-1 (35'): Edu.

HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 24 of La Liga. Venue: Manuel Ruíz de Lopera Stadium. Attendance: 50,000.