Athens - Age seems to have become a problem for Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, whose impressive form was not enough to grant him a spot in Marcello Lippi's squad as the world champions Wednesday visit Greece for a friendly in Athens.

Lippi decided to leave home the 34-year-old striker despite the three memorable goals he scored as Juve beat giants Real Madrid in two Champions League games.

For Del Piero's millions of fans worldwide, however, it may be hard to criticize Lippi for preferring other players to an icon who will be almost 36 in 2010, when the Azzurri are set to defend their World Cup title in South Africa.

Italy lead their qualification group and appear to be the favourites to win it, while Greece, the 2004 European champions, also lead in their group despite a 2-1 home defeat to Switzerland in their last game a month ago.

For the last game of 2008, Lippi preferred to rely on less seasoned strikers and confirmed mainstays Alberto Gilardino and Luca Toni, who is 31, with Vincenzo Iaquinta, Simone Pepe, Fabio Quagliarella and the young Villareal promise Giuseppe Rossi likely to start from the bench.

Gaetano D'Agostino, 26, is the only new entry in midfield after his good showings with Udinese, while the defence package welcomes back Fabio Grosso and Mauro Camoranesi is again available as right winger.

The two world champions join six other players who were part of Lippi's squad at the 2006 World Cup, while defender Gianluca Zambrotta, midfielder Andrea Pirlo and goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and his vice Marco Amelia are out with injuries.

Morgan De Sanctis was summoned to keep goal from Turkish side Galatasaray, with Siena's Gianluca Curci as substitute behind a defence package steered by veteran captain Fabio Cannavaro.

Lippi and his men know they are in for a tough time at the Karaiskaki stadium, the ground where the hosts were stunned by Switzerland.

His German colleague Otto Rehhagel, who has been virtually adopted by Greece after the Euro 2004 triumph, hopes to cut a good figure against the world champions to improve his curriculum vitae as the national team's longest serving coach. (dpa)