Nesta will not play the final
Unfortunately for him and for his team, Alessandro Nesta will not play in the World Cup final against France, on the 9th of July.
Nesta’s failure to recover from the groin injury sustained against the Czech Republic on 22 June was confirmed at Thursday’s press conference in Duisburg, prior to the squad’s return to training after a well-deserved rest day on Wednesday.
Despite the news about Nesta, morale was high among the rest of the players - hardly surprising with memories of the semi-final win against Germany so fresh in the mind. Palermo defender Fabio Grosso told the assembled reporters what was running through his head when he struck the Azzurri’s opening goal deep into extra time.
As you would expect, though, Nesta is not so happy with the result of his injury.
Milan defender Nesta has suffered injury setbacks in all three of the FIFA World Cups in which he has played: he missed Italy’s second round defeat to South Korea four years ago and was also injured for the quarter-final exit to France in 1998.
“It is another strange World Cup for him, every time he gets injuries,” said Marco Materazzi, who started against Germany and is again expected to partner captain Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence.
“He is a fantastic lad. When I was sent off against Australia he left the bench and came to console me in the dressing room which was a lovely gesture. He’s a model professional and a great player.”