Cannavaro ruled out of Euro

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the upcoming Euro 2008 championships on Monday after suffering a left ankle injury according to Ansa press agency.

The replacement for the 34-year-old Real Madrid defender – capped 116 times – will be announced soon, the Italian Football Federation informed Ansa.

Cannavaro suffered the injury during a training session at their Austrian base.

He underwent scans at a hospital in Modling, 15 kilometres south of Vienna, after colliding with Giorgio Chiellini during the practice match and was subsequently transferred to another hospital in Vienna.

Cannavaro, who led Italy to the World Cup title in 2006, was prone on the ground for around 20 minutes.

He is likely to be replaced in the squad by either AC Milan's Daniele Bonera, who has 13 caps, or Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini, who has 2 caps.

Cannavaro's absence is a serious blow to Italy, who are in the 'Group of Death' with 2006 World Cup finalists France, Holland and dark horses Romania.