Italy are facing a huge blow as the absence of skipper Fabio Cannavaro from EURO 2008 has been confirmed due to injury. The Real Madrid defender damaged ankle ligaments in the team's first training session in Baden, following a heavy collision with Giorgio Chiellini. "Fabio Cannavaro must say goodbye to the European championship," a statement on the Italian Federation official site said. Italy team doctor Paolo Zeppilli said earlier that there was some hope for the 34-year-old to recover before next week's opener with Holland. However, the results of the scan he had on Monday were not positive, suggesting that he could have surgery. Roberto Donadoni recalled Fiorentina defender Alessandro Gamberini as a replacement for his injured captain. Cannavaro was a key member of Italy's 2006 World Cup victory as he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award that year. Besides Holland, the world champions will compete with France and Romania in Group C.
