Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero and Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano have been included in Italy's provisional 24-man squad for Euro 2008, coach Roberto Donadoni said yesterday.

Del Piero, 33, has not played for the world champions in eight months but was expected to be included after finishing as Serie A's top scorer for the first time with 21 goals this term.

"Del Piero has done well, he's has had a great season," Donadoni, who has agreed a new two-year contract through to the 2010 World Cup, told a news conference.

"He had a first phase with some difficulties then there was a continual improvement and he did what he did and that has permitted him to wear the national team shirt again."

Cassano, on loan from Real Madrid, has produced some inspired displays this season but Donadoni had resisted calling him up because of worries over his bouts of indiscipline.

The colourful 25-year-old, who picked up the last of his 10 caps in 2006, was banned for five games in March for verbally abusing a referee and throwing his shirt towards him.

"What Cassano did in the past interests me only to a limited degree. The past must be wiped out for everyone in the squad, for those who won the championship or were top scorer," Donadoni said.

"If we live on memories, it could start off negativity."

Fiorentina's Riccardo Montolivo was the only other surprise inclusion, with Donadoni having to trim one name before submitting his squad to UEFA on May 28.

Italy's squad will meet on Sunday after Saturday's cup final between Serie A champions Inter and runners-up Roma. Italy's only friendly before Euro 2008 is against Belgium in Florence on May 30.

The squad

Keepers: Buffon (Juve), Amelia (Livorno), De Sanctis (Sevilla).

Defenders: Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Materazzi (Inter), Panucci (Roma), Barzagli (Palermo), Zambrotta (Barcelona), Chiellini (Juve), Grosso (Lyon).

Midfielders: Pirlo (Milan), Gattuso (Milan), Ambrosini (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juve), Montolivo (Fiorentina).

Forwards: Toni (B. Munich), Del Piero (Juve), Di Natale (Udinese), Borriello (Genoa), Quagliarella (Udinese), Cassano (Sampdoria).

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