Balotelli is joined up front by Antonio Cassano, another who attracts as many frontpage headlines as he does backpage.

Prandelli, who introduced a code of ethics when he became coach after the 2010 World Cup, left Balotelli out of the squad for a friendly against the United States in February after he received a four-match suspension for his stamp on Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.

Cassano, meanwhile, fell ill with stroke-like symptoms on AC Milan's team plane while returning from a match at Roma in October and then required minor heart surgery that kept him out for five months.

Previous coach Marcello Lippi left Cassano out of his squad at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, but he was a fixture in attack in Euro 2012 qualifying under the current boss.

There are also first call-ups under Prandelli for Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale and Rubin Kazan midfielder Salvatore Bocchetti.

The squad - apart from Juventus and Napoli players, who face each other in the Italian Cup final next weekend - will meet up on Monday at a training base in Coverciano on the outskirts of Florence for two days of fitness tests.

Italy are in a group with Spain, Republic of Ireland and Croatia.

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