Italian friendly off after earthquake

Soccer: Italy's friendly against Luxembourg in Parma tonight has been cancelled after the earthquake which struck the region…

Soccer:Italy's friendly against Luxembourg in Parma tonight has been cancelled after the earthquake which struck the region near the northern city this morning.

At least 10 people have died after the magnitude 5.8 quake hit northern Italy, just over a week after a similar sized shock struck the region last week.

The quake and a subsequent tremor this afternoon was also felt at the Republic of Ireland's training base in Montecatini, Tuscany.

"An earthquake was experienced in Parma, 210 km away from the Irish team’s training camp in Montecatini this morning at 9.03am," an FAI statement confirmed this afternoon. "Tremors were felt in Montecatini. Nothing was noticed on the ground floor of the team hotel. However, some light movement was experienced in the higher levels.

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"Everything is fine in camp. The thoughts and prayers of Giovanni (Trapattoni), Marco (Tardelli) and the squad at this time are with the dead and injured in the neighbouring Emilia Romagnan region."

Italy, who open their Euro 2012 campaign against defending European and world champions Spain on June 10th before games against Croatia and Republic of Ireland in Group C, are scheduled to take on Russia in Zurich on Friday.

Earlier today, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci was included in Italy’s final Euro 2012 squad despite being mentioned in the latest match-fixing investigation to engulf the country.

Bonucci is expected to face questioning as part of a probe carried out by Cremona prosecutors with regards to his time as a Bari player in the 2009-10 campaign. He is not under any formal investigation at this stage and has denied any wrongdoing.

Italy omitted Zenit St Petersburg defender Domenico Criscito from the squad yesterday after he was quizzed by police as part of the same investigation.

Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia and Siena striker Mattia Destro were also left out today by Italy coach Cesare Prandelli as he trimmed his squad to 23 names.

Veteran Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale, 34, survived the cull. The top Italian scorer in Serie A in the recently-completed season has not played under Prandelli and is one of five strikers Italy will take to the tournament to be played in Poland and Ukraine.

AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano has also made Prandelli’s roster after coming back from minor heart surgery. Cassano was Italy’s top scorer in qualifying with six goals.

Recently-crowned Premier League winner Mario Balotelli of Manchester City is in the group.

Italy squad:Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Sirigu (Paris St Germain); Abate (AC Milan), Balzaretti (Palermo), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino); De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta (Paris St Germain), Nocerino (AC Milan), Pirlo (Juventus); Balotelli (Manchester City), Borini (Roma), Cassano (Milan), Di Natale (Udinese), Giovinco (Parma).