Nethelands Vs. Italy Match Preview

It may be the pick of the early fixtures at Euro 2008, but both Holland and Italy will be limping into tomorrow's Group C showdown in Bern.

Injuries to big names have struck in both camps, with Holland the latest to receive a major blow when it was confirmed that Arjen Robben is out of the match with a groin problem.

'First of all it's very disappointing for Arjen,' said Holland coach Marco van Basten.

'However, it's also a pity for the team, especially as we lost Ryan Babel, also a left winger, already last week.'

Robin van Persie is also expected to miss out despite returning to training while defender Mario Melchiot is rated as doubtful with a groin injury of his own.

Good news has been short in supply from the Dutch treatment room, but Real Madrid's Wesley Sneijder is expected to be fit for the match after problems earlier in the week.

Still, the list of absentees leaves Van Basten short-handed for his team's first test in the so-called 'Group of Death', which also features France and Romania.

Holland can at least take heart from the fact that the Italians have been hit with injury problems of their own, most notably in defence.

The world champions are already without influential captain Fabio Cannavaro, ruled out for the tournament after undergoing surgery on damaged ankle ligaments, and they are now sweating on the fitness of Roma veteran Christian Panucci.

The 35-year-old limped out of training on Friday with a knee injury, but did his best to sound upbeat on Saturday.

'I feel better,' he said. 'Yesterday I felt a pain in my tendon in my knee and having suffered the same problem earlier this year I decided to stop training as a precaution.

'I really don't want to miss the game against Holland, not to be a hero but rather because I believe I'm fine and I think I can recover.'

Italy will feature Alessandro Del Piero after the Juventus star was restored to the national team recently, having been dropped following the World Cup.

However, Serie A's leading scorer could be deployed on the left wing rather than a forward position.