Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi was the only new name in defending champions Italy's 30-man provisional World Cup squad, announced yesterday by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
The 23-year-old, who has scored three goals in 14 international appearances, was the only addition to the 29-man group that was summoned to a 48-hour get-together in Rome last week.
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi missed the rendezvous in the capital due to his participation in the Italian Cup but he has returned to the squad.
Rossi takes the place of Juventus centre-back Nicola Legrottaglie, who has often been called up by Italy coach Marcello Lippi but who has failed to hold down a first-team place with his Turin club this season.
As Lippi had announced on Monday, there were "no surprises" in the list, with Roma captain Francesco Totti, in-form Sampdoria playmaker Antonio Cassano and controversial Inter forward Mario Balotelli all overlooked.
There was no place either for Luca Toni, Lippi's first-choice striker at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, who is currently on loan at Roma from B. Munich.
Ten players from Italy's triumph at the last World Cup are in the squad: goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, defenders Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta, midfielders De Rossi, Mauro Camoranesi, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo and forwards Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Lippi will trim his list to 23 and four reserves in Rome on May 18 before submitting his definitive 23-man squad to FIFA by June 1.
Provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juve), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Cagliari), Sirigu (Palermo).
Defenders: Bocchetti (Genoa), Bonucci (Bari), Cannavaro (Juve), Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juve), Criscito (Genoa), Grosso (Juve), Maggio (Napoli), Zambrotta (Milan).
Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juve), Candreva (Juve), Cossu (Cagliari), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Marchisio (Juve), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pepe (Udinese), Pirlo (Milan).
Forwards: Borriello (Milan), Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juve), Pazzini (Sampdoria), Quagliarella (Napoli), Rossi (Villarreal).