World Cup 2006 News

Injured Italy defender Nesta ruled out of World Cup final

Jul 6, 2006, 15:47 GMT

Duisburg - Italian star defender Alessandro Nesta has failed to recover from an injury and will miss Sunday's World Cup final against France.

'Alessandro Nesta is not available for Sunday's final against France,' Italian team doctor Enrico Castellacci told reporters Thursday.

The 30-year-old AC Milan player sustained a groin injury in Italy's final group game against the Czech Republic and hasn't played since.

Nesta will likely be replaced on Sunday by Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi, author of Italy's first goal against the Czechs.

Capped 77 times for Italy, Nesta was recently named by Pele one of the strongest defenders of all times.

Injuries also forced him to miss a number of games in his previous World Cup campaigns, in 1998 and in 2002.