Maria Chiara Franchini felt pangs of regret this past week when the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women was staged in Madrid.

That's because Italy wasn't just one or two European sides that joined Russia by clinching spots for the Beijing Games.

Four women's national teams from the continent - Spain, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Belarus - all won quarter-finals in the Spanish capital to reach the Olympics.

They made it to Madrid's Telefonica for the event because of their top five performances last year in Chieti, Italy, where the Azzurre also played but finished ninth.

"(There are) A lot of regrets having seen all the European teams succeed in the Olympic qualifying tournament and reach the Olympics in Beijing," she said.

"We made mistakes, we arrived tired (last year) in the crucial week, but then again three of our four defeats came against teams that reached the podium. Had we met a different team than Belarus in the second round, our destiny would have been different."

Franchini still has not digested the defeat to Belarus in the last quarter-final qualifying round game that knocked her team out of the competition.

How does she feel about the EuroBasket Women?

"Disappointment, bitterness for a result that never arrived despite a very busy summer," she said. "It was terrible to see all the work of a couple of months thrown away in 40 minutes in the game against Belarus."

That side was coached by Gianni Lambruschi, but he has been replaced by Franchini's former boss at Faenza, Giampiero Picchi.

The new coach expressed concern at his unveiling about the wavering commitment of some players, but the 29-year-old Franchini, a 1.81m guard who averaged nearly 28 minutes per game this season in the EuroLeague Women with Faenza, is not one of them.

She says there are plenty of players ready to fight for a place in Riga, where the EuroBasket Women will be staged next year.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm and a willingness to bounce back from the disappointment of last year," Franchini said.

"If I am here, it is because I am committed to this national team and it never crossed my mind to turn down the call. The national team is the national team."

Picchi could make some changes in the squad for the qualifying games against Poland, Finland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Youngsters are likely to get the nod over some veterans.

"As it should be, their energy will do us good," Franchini said.

"They have transmitted passion so far and you can see in their eyes that they are proud to wear the national colours. Many of them deserve to be a part of this team and want to prove themselves."

Franchini was coached by Ticchi a couple of years ago at Faenza.

"It's a further reason to continue to come to the national team," she said.

"I know him well, he is a very positive person and it's someone we need. I was particularly happy that he was chosen."

Italy will meet on July 9 to prepare for their Euro 2009 qualifiers.