Toni likely to miss qualifier vs France

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni is unlikely to play in Italy's Euro 2008 qualifier against France in Milan on Saturday, Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni said yesterday. Toni, a member of Italy's World Cup-winning team, is suffering from a thigh strain...

Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni is unlikely to play in Italy's Euro 2008 qualifier against France in Milan on Saturday, Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni said yesterday.

Toni, a member of Italy's World Cup-winning team, is suffering from a thigh strain that kept him out of the Bundesliga leaders' 1-1 draw at Hamburg on Sunday.

"Objectively, it will be difficult for Toni (to play against France)," Donadoni told a news conference at Italy's training camp near Florence.

"Today (yesterday) he will try to train at just 70 per cent and, depending on how he responds, we will see whether it is possible to increase his workload tomorrow or better to conserve him for the next match in Ukraine."

Donadoni has already lost defender Marco Materazzi and goalkeeper Christian Abbiati to injury. The Italy coach must also wait on captain Fabio Cannavaro's late fitness test, but is ready to replace Toni with Shakhtar Donetsk's Cristiano Lucarelli or Udinese forward Fabio Quagliarella.

Italy will take on Ukraine in Kiev four days after the Group B showdown with the side they beat in last year's World Cup final.

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