EURO 2008 INFO

ZURICH, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Italy, who have again overlooked Alessandro Del Piero, and Portugal have little room to experiment in Wednesday's friendly in Switzerland after both naming 20-man squads.

It now looks highly likely the world champions will go to Euro 2008 without Del Piero. A lacklustre showing in September's 0-0 draw with France led to the Juventus striker being axed by coach Roberto Donadoni, who has stuck to his guns despite some superb club displays from the 33-year-old forward in January.

In-form Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano was also ignored and looks set to miss the proper trip to Switzerland and Austria for June's championship.

The logic of Donadoni naming a 20-man squad when he will have 23 players at his disposal at the Euros has been quickly questioned by Italian pundits, but a first call-up for Genoa striker Marco Borriello gives him some different options.

The squad is now 19 after Fiorentina's Franco Semioli pulled out with injury and a replacement might not be named.

The defence is one area where Donadoni is loathed to tinker given Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo's form for Manchester United this season and keeper Gianluigi Buffon being injured.

Inter Milan centre back Marco Materazzi returns to the squad after recovering from the serious thigh injury sustained in Italy's 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary in August.

The 34-year-old will hope to resume his World-Cup winning partnership with captain Fabio Cannavaro but Andrea Barzagli's good international form in his absence could give the Palermo defender the edge, especially against the speedy Ronaldo.

Portugal's squad also had few surprises although coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to try out different tactics.

'Italy have a very peculiar style of play. We have a lot of ball possession and they have little but are dangerous in certain moments which can dictate results. We must learn to play in these scenarios,' he told reporters.

Striker Nuno Gomes will be missing for the Euro 2004 runners-up after injuring his left thigh during Benfica's 0-0 home draw with Nacional Madeira on Saturday. He is replaced by West Bremen striker Hugo Almeida.

The match in Zurich gives authorities the chance for a dry run of procedures ahead of the tournament.

Italy face France, the Netherlands and Romania in Euro 2008 Group C with Portugal playing Switzerland, Turkey and Czech Republic in Group A.