A.Nesta will miss the match against Australia © EuroFootball.com

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talian national team and club center-back Alessandro Nesta will miss the round of 16 match against the Australian team on Monday. As stated by the Italian national team doctor on Saturday, in the last group stage match against the Czech Republic, which Italians won 2-0, the player injured a muscle.

Team doctor Enrico Castellacci revealed that before making a decision on whether to include him in the team for Monday's match, X-rays will be taken.

"It's not a very serious injury, but he definitely won't play against Australia on Monday. We will try to determine the extent of the injury and do our best to heal him as quickly as possible," Castellacci said.

Marco Materazzi will start the game in the starting lineup and will take his place, as in the match against the Czech Republic he managed to score one of Italy's two goals.

Italy finished in 1st place in Group E and on June 26 in Kaiserslautern they will face the Australian team, which finished 2nd in Group F.