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Ten key players in Italy's World Cup team

The Local Italy
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Ten key players in Italy's World Cup team
Three of Italy's key players (L-R): Daniele de Rossi, Andrea Pirlo and Mario Balotelli. Photo: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has picked his team of 23 footballers to play in the World Cup in Brazil, which gets underway on June 12th.

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While he says Italy has the tactics to make it to the final of the tournament, will the side be able to rekindle its winning form of 2006?

With lynchpins including Andrea Pirlo, Daniele de Rossi and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, there is some hope. 

Striker Mario Balotelli is also on board, as is Alessio Cerci, who's being eyed by the UK's premiership after a stellar performance for Torino in Serie A last season.  

Cerci will make his World Cup debut for Italy as will Mattia di Sciglia, who plays for Milan.

Meanwhile, Fiorentina striker Giuseppe Rossi was left out of the squad, a decision based on Italy’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, in which neither side scored.

Out of the 23 men going to Brazil, The Local has put together a top 10 list of the ones to watch. CLICK HERE to see.

The total line-up is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Mattia Perin (Genoa), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Torino), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Gabriel Paletta (Parma)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Marco Parolo (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Milan), Antonio Cassano (Parma), Alessio Cerci (Torino), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)

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