AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi has been named in Italy [Images] coach Marcello Lippi's 23-man squad for next month's World Cup along with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

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The 32-year-old Inzaghi has not played for the national team since October 2003 due to a series of injuries but his recent club form has earned him a spot in the squad.

Juventus goalkeeper Buffon was included despite his link to an ongoing investigation into gambling. He was questioned on Saturday over alleged betting improprieties after he voluntarily presented himself to Turin magistrates.

The keeper has denied any wrongdoing or breaking the ban on gambling that is imposed on all professional players in Italy.

Italian Football Federation vice-president Giancarlo Abete said there was no reason to leave Buffon out of the squad.

"We made our verifications and there was no reason to make any different decision," he said. "We decided not to impose any restrictions on Lippi regarding Buffon," added Abete.

Coach Marcello Lippi said he had no worries that Buffon might be distracted by the affair.

"I have spoken to the player and I think not," Lippi told a news conference, adding that the keeper was not likely to suffer an image problem as a result of the gambling probe.

"Buffon is a person of great responsibility and seriousness," added Lippi. "I don't believe his popularity will be affected by this."

There was no place in the squad for Real Madrid [Images] forward Antonio Cassano or Livorno's Cristiano Lucarelli, whose 19 goals in Serie A this season had pushed him into contention.

Udinese forward Vincenzo Iaquinta was chosen ahead of Lucarelli as back-up for target man Luca Toni, who is Europe's top scorer with 31 goals this season.

Italy have been drawn in Group E for the finals along with Ghana, the Czech Republic and the United States.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio), Marco Amelia (Livorno)

Defenders: Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Fabio Grosso (Palermo), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo).

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Simone Barone (Palermo).

Forwards: Luca Toni (Fiorentina), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Francesco Totti [Images] (AS Roma), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese).

Reserves: Morgan De Sanctis, goalkeeper (Udinese), Daniele Bonera, defender, (Parma), Franco Semioli (Chievo Verona), Marco Marchionni (Parma).