The 18-year-old Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni was one of three players given their first national team call-up by new Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso on Friday.

Also named to the Azzurri squad for the first time were Inter Milan forward Francesco Pio Esposito and Bologna midfielder Giovanni Fabbian .

It's the first time Gattuso has named his squad since taking over for the fired Luciano Spalletti in June.

- Giovanni Leoni: Scouting report, tactical fit at Liverpool

- Gattuso keen to create a 'family' at battered Italy

- Norway to donate profits vs. Israel to Gaza aid

Facing the prospect of failing to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, Italy have no room for errors in qualifiers against Estonia in Bergamo next Friday and against Israel in Hungary three da

See Full Page