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Buffon happy with striking options

euro 2012 liveItaly captain Gianluigi Buffon believes his side can cope with the absence of Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi.

The Azzurri will be without the two strikers for the upcoming international friendlies at Poland and against Uruguay.

AC Milan's Cassano, who scored six goals in qualifying for next year's European Championship, has been ruled out indefinitely after undergoing a cardiac procedure to repair a heart defect.

Rossi, meanwhile, is sidelined for six months after sustaining a knee injury last month while on duty with club Villarreal.

Buffon is confident Italy can make do, though.

"We will miss Antonio and Giuseppe because they both have quality and personality," Buffon said on Tuesday.

"They have given the national team so much and I'm convinced they will return in time to give us a hand at Euro2012."

In the meantime, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will have to find new attacking solutions.

Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli and Inter Milan striker Giampaolo Pazzini have returned to the Azzurri squad after missing last month's Euro2012 qualifiers through injury.

Buffon believes that despite the loss of Cassano and Rossi, Prandelli has plenty of talent to choose from.

"We have four or five strikers that are at the same level," he said.

"We have the resources to replace Antonio and Giuseppe.

"We have players of the calibre of Pazzini, Balotelli, (Roma's Daniel) Osvaldo and (Juventus' Alessandro) Matri that can make a difference.

"We are covered in attack."

One player that is not in the Azzurri squad is Serie A's leading scorer Antonio Di Natale.

The 34-year-old, who has scored eight league goals so far, was again omitted from Prandelli's 24-man squad.

The Udinese forward has not featured for Italy since last year's World Cup.

"Our coach has already proved that he selects the players with transparency, honesty and calmness, without feeling pressure from anyone" Buffon said.

Italy travel to Wroclaw to face Poland on Friday before hosting Uruguay on November 15 in Rome.

Watch Italy vs Uruguay free live stream here.