By Cindy Garcia-Bennett, PA International

Italian coach Carlo Recalcati remains optimistic despite watching his Azzurri end their European Championships preparations on a losing note to Germany.

The Azzurri lost 78-74 in Berlin to the Germans, who are among the favourites to take the title in Sweden.

Italy lost, despite playing against a Nowitzki-less German side.

Nowitzki is Germany's NBA star with the Dallas Mavericks who is, to put it bluntly, unstoppable most nights when he steps onto the court.

"This match is a testimony that we always have to be faithful to our identity in order to do well," said Recalcati.

"We have made mistakes on offence and defence but nevertheless we have come back several times and we could have won, a good sign after all."

Recalcati's men have struggled at times this season but they seemed to have hit top form last week by winning the Efes Pilsen World Cup II tournament in Istanbul.

Against the Germans, Italy were missing forward Alessandro De Pol, who picked up a left thigh injury, but the positive news was the return of Alex Righetti.

Righetti picked up an ankle injury in Turkey but has fully recovered.

The Lottomatica Roma star scored 15 points and was only surpassed by team-mate Nikola Radulovic, who netted 21 points

Righetti also had six rebounds.

Italy pulled to within two points at the start of the fourth quarter after a Radulovic three-pointer.

Centre Roberto Chiacig then scored on a three-point play to close the gap to just one but a pair of late fouls by forward Giacomo Galanda and playmaker Gianluca Basile on Mithat Demirel and Stefano Garris helped the Germans pull away.

"We are a team that cannot afford to make mistakes, we are ruled by the mistakes we make in order to do well or badly in a game," said Recalcati.

Italy travel to Sweden on Monday and play Slovenia in their Group A opener on Friday.