By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA International

Italy coach Carlo Recalcati has finally decided upon the 12 players he will take to Sweden next month for the European Championships and the biggest surprise is the inclusion of Davide Lamma.

The Reggio Calabria point guard did not play at all in qualifying but he has done enough this summer to earn a place in Recalcati's group.

Failing to make the cut were Livorno centre Luca Garri, Laurettana Viella guard Marco Carraretto and Virtus Roma forward Alessandro Tonolli.

All four players will be on standby on case Italy lose any of their players due to injuries or illness.

Tonolli will be bitterly disappointed after appearing in six of Italy's qualifying games.

Playmaker Gianmarco Pozzecco was dropped from the squad earlier this month.

"It is the best squad that we can give as of today, 12 players who are speaking the same language (on the court)," said Recalcati, whose team are in Group A along with France, Slovenia and Bosnia Herzegovina.

Recalcati announced his squad from Istanbul, where Italy are taking part in the Efes Pilsen Istanbul World Cup II along with hosts Turkey, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Latvia and New Zealand.

The Azzurri are looking to duplicate their heroics of four years ago when they captured the title.

Italy squad for European Championships in Sweden: Denis Marconato (Benetton Treviso), Roberto Chiacig (Montepaschi Siena), Alessandro Cittadini (Viola Reggio Calabria); Matteo Soragna (Lauretana Biella), Alex Righetti (Lottomatica Roma), Michele Mian (Snaidero Udine); Gianluca Basile (Skipper Bologna), Davide Lamma (Viola Reggio Calabria), Massimo Bulleri (Benetton Treviso), Nikola Radulovic (Joventut Badalona), Giacomo Galanda (Montepaschi Siena), Alessandro De Pol (Metis Varese).