Italy coach Antonio Conte has named Stefano Sturaro and Angelo Ogbonna in his 23-man squad for Euro 2016, with Riccardo Montolivo and Jorginho the surprise omissions.
Montolivo's absence can be explained by injury, but Napoli's Jorginho was expected to be included after a strong season at club level, while Juventus' Sturaro made just 11 starts in Serie A, scoring one goal.
"I'm sure I've picked the best," said Conte to RAI television ahead of his squad announcement.
Italy will be led out for their first fixture of Euro 2016 against Belgium on June 13 by their captain Gianluigi Buffon, who forms part of what is likely to be a Juventus defence, together with Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
Upon those foundations, Italy will look to build a successful tournament and create an upset, according to the 38-year-old custodian.
"We certainly have a great responsibility to represent our country, which in certain aspects lives for football," he said. "We're one of the biggest national teams in the world and while it's not our best moment right now, it's when nobody really expects it when you tend to be able to pull something out of the hat and surprise people."
With Marco Verratti and Claudio Marchisio both ruled out through injury, Daniele De Rossi's experience could be a key in midfield, while Thiago Motta has been included together with Lazio's Marco Parolo.
Up front, Southampton's Graziano Pelle appears to be Conte's first choice ahead of Juventus' Simone Zaza, with Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne and Torino's Ciro Immobile also included.
Eder's dip in form, with just one goal since joining Inter Milan from Sampdoria in January having found the net 12 times for the Blucerchiati in the first half of the season, has not cost him a place in the squad with Conte taking five forwards to France.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham)
Midfielders: Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (AC Milan), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus)
Forwards: Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pelle (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus)