Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has handed Antonio Cassano an international lifeline by naming him in his preliminary Euro 2008 squad.Cassano has starred while on loan at Sampdoria from Real Madrid this season but has often found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons - most notably when he threw his shirt at a referee after being sent off against Torino.

The 25-year-old played at Euro 2004 but did not make it to the 2006 World Cup after being left out by then coach Marcello Lippi.

Cassano was a bit-part player during the 2008 qualifying campaign but will be on the plane for Austria and Switzerland after being called up to the 24-man squad.

"All the players I have named deserve it," Donadoni said.

"I told Cassano: enough gambles, gambles are for 16- or 17-year-old players. For him the time of gambles is over.

"Cassano has a great opportunity and knows what it means to be in this group. Cassano will have to live up to that."

Italy's provisional 24-man squad for Euro 2008:

Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Siviglia).

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

Midfielders: Ambrosini (AC Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (AC Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo; Borriello (Genoa), Cassano (Real Madrid).

Strikers: Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

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