Italy manager Cesare Prandelli has named a provisional 32-man squad for Euro 2012, which includes several surprises.
AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano has been named in the initial 32, despite missing most of the season as he recovered from surgery on a heart problem.
Controversial Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is included, after being dropped from the Azurri squad in February for a ‘breach of team ethics’.
Rubin Kazan defender Salvatore Bocchetti and Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale have also been called up, despite not having featured under Prandelli before.
There is a youthful look to the squad which contrains four uncapped players.
Atalanta winger Ezequiel Schelotto, Pescara's Marco Verratti, Siena striker Mattia Destro, and Emanuele Giaccherini of Juventus are part of the squad, but expected to be among those who don’t make the final cut.
Prandelli will reveal his final 23-man squad for Euro 2012 on 29 May.
Italy provisional 32-man squad for Euro 2012:
Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Sirigu (Paris St Germain), Viviano (Palermo); Abate (AC Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Balzaretti (Palermo), Barzagli (Juventus), Bocchetti (Rubin Kazan), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St Petersburg), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter Milan); Cigarini (Atalanta), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Paris St Germain), Nocerino (AC Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Schelotto (Atalanta), Verratti (Pescara); Balotelli (Manchester City), Borini (Roma), Cassano (AC Milan), Destro (Siena), Di Natale (Udinese), Giovinco (Parma).
