The world champions host Ukraine here on Saturday at the Olympic stadium where Cassano played for Serie A side Roma before leaving to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in January.

Cassano left Roma under a cloud after falling out with the coaching staff and the club's volatile fans over his perceived poor attitude.

The 24-year-old could have expected a far from welcoming reception on Saturday given that the stadium will be made up mostly of Roma fans.

But Donadoni is adamant Cassano was not picked for his squad for technical reasons, and because he is carrying a slight injury.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about him, but I make the choices based on condition and form," Donadoni said at Monday's press conference at Italy's training camp in Coverciano, Florence.

"On a scale of one to 10 when I was considering whether to pick him, the concern about a potential protest against him was less than two.

"But those left out have not been rejected - the door to the national team is open to every player."

After facing Ukraine, who Italy beat 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, the Azzurri take on Georgia in Tbilisi the following Wednesday.

Italy have taken just one point from their first two Group B matches against Lithuania and France and are in danger of missing out on the tournament that will be co-hosted by Switzerland and Austria.