Loading...Vieira set to face Italy
Group B
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France captain Patrick Vieira hopes to overcome a hamstring strain and avoid joining coach Raymond Domenech in the stands for Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier with world champions Italy.
Domenech has been given a one-match touchline ban by UEFA after accusing Italy of bribing a referee in an Under-21 qualifying match for the 2000 Olympics.
His allegations have added extra spice to the Group B match, a repeat of last year's World Cup final which Italy won on penalties.
The fitness of Vieira has also caused a rift between the rival nations with the midfielder's club Inter Milan believing he is not yet fit and France saying he should be able to take part at the San Siro.
'If he can play one hour, everything is fine. I am very optimistic,' Domenech told reporters.
Vieira said last week that although he would give himself every chance to play at his home ground, he did not want to risk being ruled out of next Wednesday's home qualifier against Scotland.
Arsenal defender William Gallas is also a doubt for France with a groin injury.
Second-placed Italy, two points behind group leaders France and one ahead of Scotland, have their own injury worries for a game they ideally need to win with main striker Luca Toni struggling with a thigh strain.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, under pressure after a 3-1 friendly defeat in Hungary last month, said on Tuesday it would be difficult for the 30-year-old to play but the Bayern Munich striker has not given up hope.
'I will do everything to be there,' Toni told reporters. 'I still have a little muscle problem but it is mild. In the next few days I will do everything possible to get fit and be on the pitch. Then it will be for Donadoni to decide.'
AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi is likely to step in if Toni is not fit with Alessandro Del Piero and Udinese's Fabio Quagliarella filling the wide forward positions in Donadoni's favoured three-pronged attack.
Italy, who lost to France in Paris in September, have further problems at centre back after Marco Materazzi was ruled out with the thigh injury he suffered in the Hungary defeat.
Donadoni has called up 34-year-old AS Roma defender Christian Panucci, who last played for the Azzurri at Euro 2004, to add extra experience to his defensive options for the France game and the visit to Ukraine next Wednesday.
Palermo's Andrea Barzagli and recalled Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini will compete with Panucci to partner Fabio Cannavaro, who gave one of his worst performances in Hungary.
Possible teams:
1-Gianluigi Buffon; 22-Massimo Oddo, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 6-Andrea Barzagli, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta; 21-Andrea Pirlo, 10-Daniele De Rossi, 8-Gennaro Gattuso; 27-Fabio Quagliarella, 9-Filippo Inzaghi, 7-Alessandro Del Piero.
1-Mickael Landreau; 13-Francois Clerc, 15-Lilian Thuram, 3-Eric Abidal, 2-Patrice Evra; 8-Jeremy Toulalan (or 4-Patrick Vieira), 6-Claude Makelele, 22-Franck Ribery, 7-Florent Malouda, 10-Sidney Govou, 12-Thierry Henry.
Referee: Lubos Michel (Slovakia)
Source: Soccernet.com
