PREVIEW: Azzurri and Indomitable Lions tune up in Monaco

By Alberto Cagliano Mar 1, 2010, 9:04 GMT

Rome - World champions Italy sport newly designed jerseys and introduce three new caps when they tackle Cameroon Wednesday in a friendly at Monaco's Stade Louis II.

Coach Marcello Lippi has called up Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, 23, Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci, 22, and Andrea Cossu, a midfielder playing with his home side Cagliari.

'It is very satisfying, one more highlight in this good season for the team,' the 29-year-old Cossu said. 'I dedicate it to my home town and to the whole club, from the caretaker to the president.'

Sirigu is also from the island of Sardinia, which was last represented by star Gianfranco Zola, while goalkeeper Federico Marchetti plays with Cagliari and vies for a spot with Napoli's Morgan De Sanctis and Sirigu as Gianluigi Buffon nurses an injury.

Goalkeeper aside, Juventus still provide the most defenders, with veteran Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie confirmed despite their side's uncertain showings in the Serie A.

Daniele De Rossi from Roma, with AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo are the old guard that Lippi is looking to blend with the younger Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo, Angelo Palombo and Simone Pepe as Mauro Camoranesi is slowly recovering from injury.

Marco Borriello of Milan rejoins the attack package with Serie A top striker Antonio Di Natale, on 19 goals with Udinese, plus Giampaolo Pazzini of Sampdoria and Napoli's Fabio Quagliarella.

With forwards Vincenzo Iaquinta, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino injured, Lippi did not consider Inter Milan's 19-year-old talent Mario Balotelli, a fixture with the Azzurri's youth team.

The Cameroonian Indomitable Lions are back in contention at the World Cup, having missed the 2006 edition after four straight participations.

Coach Paul Le Guen took over after a poor start into the World Cup qualification campaign, but saw his team crash after the group phase at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

The former French international has tried to regenerate a team almost entirely made up of footballers who play in Europe, while relying on stars like Inter striker Samuel Eto'o, one of the team's older players, turning 29 on March 10.