ITA - Gallinari headline name in Azzurri squad

ROME (EuroBasket 2011) - Danilo Gallinari is the headline name in Italy's 19-man preliminary squad for the EuroBasket in Lithuania.

Gallinari, the 22-year-old Denver Nuggets forward, has yet to feature for the national side but is certain to feature in Lithuania for the Final Round along with fellow NBA players Marco Belinelli of New Orleans and Andrea Bargnani of Toronto.

Also in the squad announced on Tuesday is veteran guard Marco Carraretto, a Montepaschi Siena sharpshooter who has yet to make the final roster for a EuroBasket.

Italy are not just travelling to Lithuania to make up the numbers.

They are hopeful of reaching the Olympics for the first time since 2004 when they won the silver medal.

A spot in the Final in Lithuania would punch their ticket for the London Games while a top-six finish in the Baltics would allow them to compete at the 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament with three spots on offer for the London Games.

Italy will take on France, Latvia, Israel, Serbia and Germany in Group B at the EuroBasket.

The 33-year-old Carraretto is keeping his fingers crossed that this will finally be his year.

A member of the Italy squad that competed in Division A last year under Simone Pianigiani, his coach at Montepaschi, Carraretto averaged more than 21 minutes per contest in eight games.

"For me to play at the EuroBasket would give me great pride as it would be my first major tournament with the national team," Carraretto said to FIBA.com at this year's Euroleague Final Four.

"To play for Italy is a reward for any player based on the work he has done throughout the year.

"If I am selected, it would be further acknowledgement from Pianigiani on me.

"We will see what happens."

Italy preliminary squad: Andrea Bargnani, Marco Belinelli, Stefano Marco, Marco Carraretto, Daniele Cavaliero, Andrea Cinciarini, Andrea Crosariol, Marco Cusin, Luigi Datome, Danilo Gallinari, Jacopo Giachetti, Anelo Gigli, Daniel Hackett, Antonio Maestranzi, Stefano Mancinelli, Marco Mordente, Giuseppe Poeta, Andrea Renzi and Luca Vitali.

FIBA