In recent games, they had been blossoming into a good partnership, each making his own vital contribution and working well together as a pair that, according to coach Cesare Prandelli, "gave the opposition defence no reference points".

Now, however, Italy's attacking options have been seriously diminished thanks to some terrible news. First, Giuseppe Rossi went down with a serious knee injury; next Antonio Cassano had to undergo surgery to repair a small hole in his heart.

Former ...

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