Italy manager Marcello Lippi has dropped a hint that Parma defender Daniele Bonera might replace Juventus' injured Gianluca Zambrotta in the team's World Cup campaign. Zambrotta is expected to miss Italy's first two games after picking up a thigh strain, which drove Lippi to test Massimo Oddo, Cristian Zaccardo and Fabio Grosso but without avail. "Bonera will also be at the Coverciano training ground on Monday, seeing as Zambrotta's condition isn't good," Lippi was quoted as saying by Football Italia on Saturday. "We'll know more after Tuesday's tests and will make a decision by June 11." Alessandro Nesta is also another major concern for the Italy boss after limping off the pitch with a chronic thigh problem during the team's goalless draw with Ukraine. "He (Nesta) had a twinge in the same muscle that gave him trouble last week and I hope he'll be back in shape soon," Lippi said.
Lippi "After the tournament kicks off, there'll be a game every five days, so it's not easy to recover." Lippi, under media fire because of disappointing performances against Switzerland and Ukraine last week, defended his players and insisted that they were ready for the World Cup. "I like to underline how much these lads don't want to lose," the Italy manager said. "When you're not 100 percent fit, it's possible you'll struggle, as we did in the second half. "This is when you bring out your character, which I'm glad to say this side has in abundance." Italy will kick-off their World Cup campaign on June 12th with against Ghana before taking on the Czech Republic and the USA in Group E.
