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Vieira not ready for France-Italy showdown

17/06/2008

France midfielder Patrick Vieira has been ruled out of his side's crucial final group C match against Italy at Euro 2008 this evening.

The Inter Milan star has been struggling with a thigh problem since before the competition began.

And the news he will be unavailable for the game against the Italians is a blow to coach Raymond Domenech, who only included Vieira in his final 23-man selection for the tournament on the proviso he would play some part in the first stage.

Vieira has also been forced to miss his side's opening two games - the goalless draw with Romania and the 4-1 defeat to group winners the Netherlands – and he has revealed his frustration at the niggling problem.

"I was hoping to play that last group match but, unfortunately, the pain is still there and I don't know when I will be able to resume playing," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"I manage to train but I still have this pain which stops me from accelerating, or to kick the ball.

"I don't know where I am, I really don't know when I will be ready to play again."

France must beat Italy in Zurich if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals in Austria and Switzerland.

However, if Romania manage a win against the Dutch, both of the 2006 World Cup finalists will be automatically eliminated.