Juventus defender Gianluca Zambrotta has been ruled out of Italy's World Cup opener through injury, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced on their official website on Tuesday. Zambrotta strained his thigh eight days ago while in training, which means that he will miss Italy's inaugural match in the World Cup against Ghana on June 12th, but the Italian medical staff are hopeful that he will recuperate in time for the second group game against the United States. "We hope to have Zambrotta at Marcello Lippi's disposal by the second game," Italy doctor Enrico Castellacci was quoted as saying by Football Italia. Zambrotta teammate Alessandro Nesta is also doubtful for the Ghana game after the Milan defender picked up an injury during Italy's friendly against Ukraine on Friday. "We hope to get Nesta back as soon as possible, even if we aren't about to take any risks," Castellacci said. Palermo full-back Fabio Grosso is expected to fill in for Zambrotta while Inter defender Marco Materrazzi is on standby if Nesta doesn't fully recover for the Ghana game. Meanwhile, Francesco Totti, who just came back from a fractured ankle injury that kept him out for three months, said that he is eager to erase the bad image he finished the 2002 World Cup with when he leads Italy in Germany. "The last thing people remember of me in a World Cup is being sent off against South Korea which was a wrong decision," Totti said. "I want the world to remember me for my great skills and abilities rather than a red card, I want to show I am a great player and how important I am for Italy," the Roma forward added. The three-time world champions are drawn in Group E of the World Cup alongside Ghana, United States and Czech Republic.
