Italian defender Barzagli ruled out of Euro 2008
The 27-year-old Wolfsburg star sustained the injury in training and will now require surgery
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Thursday, 19, Jun 2008 07:32
Italy have suffered another defensive blow after Andrea Barzagli was ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.
The 27-year-old Wolfsburg star sustained the injury in training and will now require surgery.
"The Euros are over for Andrea Barzagli," said an Italian team spokesman. "The defender, injured in training, immediately underwent checks which showed a tear in the meniscus of the left knee.
"The player has expressed a desire to stay with the squad but in the coming days he will have an operation."
World champions Italy are already stretched when it comes to defenders. Captain and defensive lynch-pin Fabio Cannavaro suffered an injury in training on the eve of the championship and was ruled out of the tournament.
Coach Roberto Donadoni started the campaign against the Netherlands with Barzagli and Marco Materazzi as his defensive duo, but dropped both for the rest of the group games after the 3-0 hammering against the Dutch.
Veteran Christian Panucci and Juventus star Giorgio Chiellini are now the first-choice Italian centre-halfs, even though both men play as full-backs for their clubs.