Football: Casiraghi in favour?

THE CHELSEA striker Pierluigi Casiraghi is in line for a recall to Italy's squad for the European Championship qualifier against Wales at Anfield on 5 September.

The pounds 5.4m signing missed out on the World Cup finals because Cesare Maldini, then the national coach, favoured the former Middlesbrough man Fabrizio Ravanelli. But Dino Zoff, the new national coach, is expected to pick Casiraghi, along with his Chelsea team-mate, Roberto Di Matteo.

There is unlikely to be a recall for another Italian at Chelsea, Gianfranco Zola, when the squad is announced on Sunday. Zoff said: "I won't be changing much for the first match, it is too soon. Our league hasn't started yet, and there is a limited indication of form." The Milan defender, Paolo Maldini, is still considering retiring from international football.