Italy boss Roberto Donadoni has stated that Alessandro Del Piero is still very much in contention for a place in his squad for the Euro 2008 finals.

Del Piero has been left out of Italy's last two squads and his chances of playing in Austria & Switzerland seemed to be slim.

But the 33-year-old has been in superb form this season and scored 17 goals this season for Juventus.

And Donadoni has insisted that he never said that Del Piero was out of his plans.

"I have never said that Alessandro has lost the Azzurri shirt," Donadoni told La7 TV.

"No one can blame me for this because there is still a long way to go before the European Championship."

Donadoni added that his own aim is very much to remain at the helm of the Azzurri.

"My ambition is to do well with the Nazionale and to keep my job for a long time," he added.

"This is my main and only target so I am totally focused on it. I have no intentions to quit because what I would like to do is to keep on coaching the Azzurri."


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