Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo left out of Italy squad

The enigmatic striker and playmaker won’t play against Ireland at Euro 2016

Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been omitted from the Italy squad for Euro 2016. Photo: Getty Images
Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been omitted from the Italy squad for Euro 2016. Photo: Getty Images

Four years after his goals propelled Italy into the European Championship final, Mario Balotelli won't even get a chance to play in this year's tournament.

As expected, Balotelli was left out when Italy coach Antonio Conte named a preliminary 30-man squad for Euro 2016 on Monday.

On loan from Liverpool, Balotelli scored only one goal in 20 Serie A appearances for AC Milan this season.

Midfielder Andrea Pirlo, who is 37, was also left out, as was Sebastian Giovinco, who like Pirlo plays in Major League Soccer.

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The forwards Conte selected were likely starters Eder and Southampton’s Graziano Pellè plus Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Simone Zaza.

Italy are in Group E one of the toughest of the tournament with Belgium, Ireland and Sweden.

Preliminary Italy squad for Euro 2016

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Davide Zappacosta (Torino)

Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Lazio)

Forwards: Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma)