Milan, August 12 :

New Italy coach Roberto Donadoni left out all but one of the Azzurri’s World Cup winning squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Croatia. Marco Amelia, Italy’s third choice goalkeeper during the World Cup, was the only one to make Donadoni’s 22, named on Saturday.

The star omissions were expected after Donadoni said on Friday that the physical condition of those who played in Germany “is not and cannot be 100 per cent.” In a new look squad blending youth with experience, Donadoni named seven debutantes: defenders Giulio Falcone and Christian Terlizzi, midfielders Gennaro Delvecchio, Massimo Gobbi, Stefano Morrone, Angelo Palombo, and striker Tommaso Rocchi. Wednesday’s game against Croatia — to be played in the Tuscan seaside city of Livorno — will be Italy’s first since winning the World Cup in Germany last month, and Donadoni’s first in charge.