Soccer-Italy's Lippi names eight new faces for friendly

By Mark Meadows

ROME, May 28 (Reuters) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi called up eight uncapped players on Thursday in his squad to face Northern Ireland in a friendly in Pisa on June 6 (1850 GMT).

The world champions also named 13 established players who will be in the 23-man squad for the Confederations Cup in South Africa. The rest of the squad will be decided by June 4.

None of those 13 players, including captain and new Juventus signing Fabio Cannavaro, will feature in the Pisa game.

Lippi, whose side sit top of World Cup qualifying Group Eight, wants to experiment against Northern Ireland after some average performances in recent matches.

The eight new faces are in-form Cagliari goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, Inter Milan's teenage fullback Davide Santon, Lecce's Andrea Esposito, Palermo defender Mattia Cassani, Catania's Marco Biagianti and Giuseppe Mascara, Siena's Daniele Galloppa and Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier.

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has also been included as he bids to prove his fitness for the Confederations Cup having only just returned from knee surgery.

Despite the radical chances, there are again no places for Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, Milan forward Filippo Inzaghi and Sampdoria playmaker Antonio Cassano.

Italy squad for Northern Ireland friendly: