Striker Totti bewails Azzurri's injury curse

Italy striker Francesco Totti has bemoaned the Azzurri's bad luck after they were hit by a series of late injuries ahead of their opening World Cup match against Ghana on Monday.

'What a great start we have made! We really have been unlucky,' he was quoted as saying in La Repubblica on Thursday.

'I'm going to end up being the player in the best shape around here,' said Totti who has himself only recently recoved from a serious ankle injury.

In the past 48 hours, fullback Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso have been ruled out of Italy's opener with thigh injuries.

Alessandro Nesta also risks missing the match after aggravating an old adductor muscle injury. The central defender will have tests on Saturday to decide if he is fit to play.

Italy's lengthening casualty list unfolded in front of a bemused Totti, who had been the focus of the team's fitness concerns in the run-up to the World Cup.

The Roma captain, often described as the linchpin of Italy's World Cup bid, is struggling to regain form after spending three months on the sidelines.

The absence of Zambrotta and Gattuso, plus the possible loss of Nesta, have forced coach Marcello Lippi to reshape his team, with Fabio Grosso and Marco Materazzi coming into the back four and Simone Perrotta replacing Gattuso on the right of midfield.

'It's strange. On Tuesday, Gattuso was running about, tackling. It seems impossible,' said Totti, who could start on the bench after poor performances in draws against Switzerland and Ukraine in warm-up matches last week.

'It will be a different Italy from the one that should have been there at the start of the tournament,' he added.




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Nesta 'could recover in time for Monday opener'

Italy defender Alessandro Nesta could recover in time for the Azzurri's Group E opener against Ghana on Monday, coach Marcello Lippi said.

Nesta missed training on Thursday along with full-back Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso who have both been ruled out of Italy's opener with thigh injuries.

'Nesta has the most chance to recover (quickly),' said Lippi, adding that the centre-half could be fit in time for the Ghana game.

Milan central defender Nesta is suffering from a recurrence of an old adductor muscle injury.

'It is an injury that he has been dealing with for some time, for a few months,' the Italy coach told a news conference.

Lippi said that he was not overly worried by the injuries that have inflicted his side in the past week and refused to discuss any possible tactical changes he may have to make.

'My only worry is to get to the day before the game with as many players in the best condition possible.

'Unfortunately, we have had some injuries. You hope, obviously, that you will have everyone available but if you have faith in your squad you can't cry about a few players missing.

'You need to have faith in the squad,' added Lippi who said it was important that reserve players knew he had confidence in them.

'I've never cried about injuries. I might have a thousand faults as a coach but I feel it is very important that all the players in the squad feel important. That is my character, if someone is injured then I try to find something positive.

'I want to transmit the greatest faith possible to my players and especially in moments when there are injuries.

'I am not angry or upset by the injuries, we will get to Sunday or Monday morning and then decide,' added the Italy coach.

The Azzurri also face the United States and the Czech Republic in Group E.


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Jermaine Wright departs........

Midfielder Jermaine Wright has today had his contract with Leeds United cancelled by mutual consent.
The Club wishes him well for the future.
He is now free to join another Club without payment of a Compensation Fee.
The 30-year-old arrived at Elland Road on a free transfer from Ipswich in July 2004 and there were high expectations of him.
He made 37 appearances in his first year at the club but last season found it difficult to force his way into Kevin Blackwell's first team plans despite starting the season.
He made just three appearances before joining home town club Millwall on loan for three months and when that spell expired he joined Championship rivals Southampton until the end of the season.
In total he made 43 appearances for the Whites.

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