"Cannavaro votes to stay in"

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro is to stay with the squad along Euro 2008 despite being ruled out of the tournament.

The 34-year-old collided with the defender Giorgio Chiellini Italy in the first training session in Austria and his departure was confirmed after tests at the hospital.

Cannavaro said today: "I intend to stay with my colleagues to give them support the captain. According to you (Italian journalists) who have to bear with me for another two years. "

And the former World Player of the FIF was quick to admonish Chiellini of blame for the injury. 'These things happen,' he said. '(Chiellini) should not think twice. Let him be quiet. It was not his fault. "

Cannavaro is highlighted by a "few months after tearing ankle ligaments. The expected to have an operation on Wednesday following the injury suffered on Monday.

'This was my last European Championship. We are footballers and these things happen, "the 34-year-old Cannavaro said.

"After two years working on this campaign seems appropriate for me to stay with my classmates'.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said no decision had been made on the captaincy. The place of Cannavaro in the 23-strong squad has been filled by Alessandro Gamberini.

Alessandro Gamberini has been termed as a replacement and come to their base near Vienna today. Top 116 times, Cannavaro has been a key figure in defending Italy and was voted Fifa's World Player of the Year in 2006.

However, it has become slower and more error-prone and move to Real Madrid from Juventus after the World Cup triumph.

His place in the national side has never been questioned, but the emergence of the central Andrea Barzagli, who has produced some assured displays of Italy in the last year, slightly soften the blow of Donadoni.

Defender Marco Materazzi is also on the payroll, while Chiellini and Christian Panucci can play again at the centre rather than lateral.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon may be the most likely candidate to take over as captain with midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini other options.

The world champions flew in Austria before Monday.

Italy face the Netherlands in their first match of Group C in Berne on June 9 before playing France and Romania.

Germany arrive at work in training camp

Tenero, Switzerland, June 3 (Reuters) - Germany came to his Swiss base camp for Euro 2008 on Tuesday, notwithstanding real concerns but there are still some doubts about the alignment from their first match against Poland.

Group B favourites were well received at the airport of Lugano by 100 schoolchildren in German colours but coach Joachim Loew was in the mood to get straight to work as he scheduled a training session for the first afternoon.

After unconvincing performances in recent friendlies - a 2-2 draw with Belarus and a 2-1 victory over Serbia - Loew has yet to decide on his team to face Poland in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

"We have not had the final say on who will play," Loew said after the game of Serbia. "The meetings we have in Switzerland will have a big say. There are still questions to answer."

Loew's concerns will focus on centre-back Christoph Metzelder, who is in a position again after a serious foot injury, but has yet to prove he has recaptured his best form.

The other strong candidate to partner Per Mertesacker in the rear is Arne Friedrich.

Loew is considering playing striker Lukas Podolski as a midfielder to help offset the loss of Bernd Schneider, who was ruled out by injury before returning to the tournament.

This could see Bastian Schweinsteiger switch to the right side of midfield in what would be a reshuffle of risk.

There is another plus that is going to play alongside Miroslav Klose in advance, with Mario Gomez and Kevin Kuranyi the two options.

Oliver Neuville, who arrived outside the bank to score a late winner against Poland when the sides met in the group stage in the World Cup 2006, should again be among the alternates.

Germany will go to play Croatia and co-hosts Austria in their remaining games in Group B.