Italy omit Del Piero, Dutch drop Heitinga

BERNE (Reuters) - Italy left out striker Alessandro Del Piero as expected for their Euro 2008 Group C opener against Netherlands on Monday.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon therefore captains the world champions, who named Massimo Ambrosini in midfield instead of Daniele De Rossi. Seven players who began the 2006 World Cup final were in the starting lineup.

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten made two surprise selections with defender Khalid Boulahrouz coming in for John Heitinga in the centre of defense and Andre Ooijer replacing Mario Melchiot at right back.

Midfielder Nigel de Jong got the nod over Demy de Zeeuw as one of the two holding midfielders.

Forward Robin van Persie was left on the bench as expected because he is still short of full fitness. Like Italy, the Dutch were being skippered by their goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar.

Teams:

Netherlands: 1-Edwin van der Sar; 2-Andre Ooijer, 21-Khalid Boulahrouz, 4-Joris Mathijsen, 5-Giovanni van Bronckhorst; 17-Nigel de Jong, 8-Orlando Engelaar; 18-Dirk Kuyt, 23-Rafael van der Vaart, 10-Wesley Sneijder; 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Christian Panucci, 6-Andrea Barzagli, 23-Marco Materazzi, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta; 13-Massimo Ambrosini, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso; 16-Mauro Camoranesi, 9-Luca Toni, 11-Antonio Di Natale

Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden)

(Editing by Ken Ferris)