Rome, Aug 17: Italy's coach Giovanni Trapattoni has called up the so-called "wonder trio" of world cup strikers, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Francesco Totti, for Wednesday's friendly against Germany.
The coach today named 22 players for the match in Stuttgart, featuring two national teams which together have won six World Cup titles.
Vieri, Del Piero and Totti last played together at the 2002 World Cup in Korea when the Azzurri exited early from the competition.
A streak of injuries that sidelined the three strikers at different times last season had prevented Trapattoni from fielding them together in the European championship qualifiers.
The lineup featured the return of midfielders Alessio Tacchinardi of Juventus and Stefano Fiore of Lazio to the Italian squad.



Italian league champion Juventus contributed seven players while Champions League title-holder AC Milan only had two. AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi was left home.



Trapattoni said in an interview Friday that he planned to field the best Italian team in Stuttgart for a decisive test ahead of the crucial European qualifiers against group leader Wales on Sept. 6 and against Serbia four days later.


Bureau Report