© EuroFootball.com
As the Italian national team's camp approaches the World Cup semifinals against Germany, they received some bad news - it is unlikely that the team's defender will recover in time for the crucial "Squadra Azzurra" match in the past 16 years at the World Championships.
One of the main pillars of Marcello Lippi's coached team's defense group suffered a groin injury in the match against the Czech Republic and missed the round of 16 and quarterfinal matches. It was hoped that he could recover in time for the semifinals, but Italian Football Federation press officer Antonello Valentini confirmed that "there is little chance of seeing the player on the field."
So, although his condition has improved, the "Milan" player will not be able to help his team in the match against the World Cup hosts Germany. The main candidate to replace Nesta in the defense alongside captain Fabio Cannavaro, after his disqualification, is Marco Materazzi, but there is also hope in Andrea Barzagli, who performed well in the quarterfinal match against Ukraine.
Due to injury, the 30-year-old Nesta has already missed matches in all World Cups he has participated in - in the group stage match against Austria in 1998, he suffered a serious injury and had to return home, and four years ago, he was injured in the match against Mexico and did not play in the tragic second stage match against South Korea.
Meanwhile, as reported by FIFA, the referee for the semifinal match between Germany and Italy will be the Mexican Benito Archundia, with his assistants being his compatriot Jose Ramirezas and the Canadian Hector Vergara. This will be the record fifth match in this championship for this team of referees, who already officiated for the Italians in the group stage match against the Czech Republic and sent Czech defender Jan Polak off the field.
