Italy lose captain Cannavaro
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Article summary
Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2008™ after rupturing ligaments in his left ankle, prompting a late call for Alessandro Gamberini.
Article top media content
Article body
The Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2008™ after rupturing ligaments in his left ankle during the Azzurri's first training session at their base in Modling, Austria yesterday. Coach Roberto Donadoni reacted by calling in the ACF Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini.
Chiellini tackle
The 34-year-old Real Madrid CF centre-back, capped 116 times, sustained the knock following a tackle by fellow defender Giorgio Chiellini and was carried off the field on a stretcher. Italy doctor Paolo Zeppilli said he feared that the injury was "not minor" and so it proved as hospital tests confirmed the extent of the damage.
Big boots
Gamberini joins up with the squad having won two previous caps. The 26-year-old may have big boots to fill – Cannavaro skippered Italy to FIFA World Cup glory in 2006 – but the former Bologna FC defender can take confidence from a consistent season during which he appeared 40 times in Serie A and the UEFA Cup for the Viola.