Pazzini made his debut with the senior Italian team on 28 March 2009 in a World Cup qualification match against Montenegro, scoring his first goal. Four days later, he was awarded with a place in the starting line-up against the Republic of Ireland. He was sent off in the second minute of the match for elbowing defender John O'Shea, the fastest sending-off in Italian history. Pazzini started the friendly against Northern Ireland in Pisa on 6 June 2009, where he missed a penalty in the 55th minute.