US captain Carlos Bocanegra out of starting lineup against Italy in Confederations Cup

Carlos Bocanegra out of US lineup against Italy

PRETORIA, South Africa — U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra is out of the starting lineup for his team’s Confederations Cup opener against Italy because of his strained right hamstring from a World Cup qualifier on June 6.

Tim Howard is the starting goalkeeper Monday. Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are in central defense, with Jonathan Bornstein and Jonathan Spector outside backs.

Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark, Benny Feilhaber and Clint Dempsey are in midfield. Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore are at forward.

DeMerit is making his first start since a World Cup qualifier at Barbados on June 22 last year.

Just three of the U.S. players — Onyewu, Dempsey and Donovan — started in the last meeting between the teams, a 1-1 tie in the first round of the 2006 World Cup in Italy.

Italy, which went on to win its fourth World Cup, is returning five starters from that game: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon; defender Gianluca Zambrotta; midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo; and forward Alberto Gilardino. The Azzurri starting lineup also includes defenders Fabio Grosso, Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie; and midfielders Gennaro Gattuso, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Mauro Camoranesi.

The referee is Pablo Pozo of Chile.