Cassano gets Euro 2008 call up

Antonio Cassano has received a shock call up for Italy's Euro 2008 squad. The Sampdoria forward was not even suggested as a candidate to take part in the event, but Donadoni has given him the vote of confidence. Alessandro del Piero has also made the squad.

Cassano had not appeared for Italy since September 2006.

"I'm not taking any chances with Cassano," explained Donadoni. "He is not a youngster any more and knows what it means to be a member of a group. I know perfectly well what he can give in technical terms."

Italy squad

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla FC).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Marco Materazzi (FC Internazionale Milano), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (ACF Fiorentina), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Marco Borriello (Genoa CFC), Antonio Cassano (UC Sampdoria), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München).