Italy defender Andrea Barzagli is out of Euro 2008 after tearing his meniscus in training, doctors said Thursday.
The Wolfsburg centre back will probably be operated on in the same Vienna clinic where World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro had surgery after a training clash before the tournament began, doctors said.
After performing poorly in Italy's debut 3-0 defeat to Netherlands, Barzagli did not play in Italy's 1-1 draw with Romania and its qualification-clinching 2-0 win over France.
He was not expected to feature in Sunday's quarter-final against Spain.
But his absence means Italy only have the off-form Marco Materazzi or the inexperienced Alessandro Gamberini to turn to should either of the new central pairing, Christian Panucci and Giorgio Chiellini, get a knock or red card.
