This news is disastrous! Azzurri captain Fabio Cannavaro twisted his ankle in training on Monday following a collision with team-mate Giorgi Chiellini. He underwent lengthy treatment on the pitch, and later extensive tests revealed he has torn ankle ligaments and will play no part Euro 2008!

This news come in the back of Italy’s 3-1 defeat of Belgium. With Cannavaro’s absence, the Italian defence may be weakened, but the other Italian defenders will still be capable of completing a job, just that the team may miss Cannavaro’s leadership on the pitch.

The ever reliable Gianluigi Buffon will still be there to protect the goal, while the central defender position vacated by Cannavaro will most likely go to Andrea Barzagli or Giorgio Chellini, partner by Marco Materazzi. When Marco Materazzi was injured at the start of the season, Barzagli became first-choice centre back for Italy’s remaining Euro qualifiers. He let no-one down with some top displays. Zambrotta will play either on the left or on the right side, depending on who the coach prefers between Christian Panucci and Fabio Grosso.

In midfield, the Milan trio of Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini will likely be joined by one of the Roma trio of Daniele de Rossi on the left side of midfield. The other 2 are Simone Perrota and Alberto Aquilani, one of the young bright star of Roma. If the coach prefers a more attacking style, Juve winger Mauro Camoranesi is there to provide some flair to the Azzurri’s play. Riccardo Montolivo made up the Italian midfield. A neat passer, he was key to Fiorentina’s run to fourth spot in Serie A and the UEFA Cup semi-finals this year.

In the forward position, the Azzurri certainly have a number of options. Luca Toni will surely be the one leading the attack, with Marco Boriello as his back-up. On form, Serie A Golden Boot winner Del Piero should be in the supporting role for Toni,  but Antonio Di Natale has been instrumental in Italy’s play, where he operates as a left winger/left attacker. If things do not go well, there are still the mercurial Antonio Cassano and Fabio Quagliarella

As for backup to Buffon, Marco Amelia and Morgan De Sanctis are capable personnel to complete their tasks. Amelia played a part in Livorno’s Serie A survival, while De Sanctis, a former Udinese keeper, played in Seville, though has not played much.