Four in a row no problem for Italy veteran Panucci

Italy's veteran defender Christian Panucci said yesterday he felt fit and ready to play his fourth successive game at Euro 2008.

The 35-year-old, regularly rested during a tough season with Roma, is poised to play centre-back alongside Giorgio Chiellini in tomorrow's quarter-final against Spain in Vienna.

Panucci shrugged off a slight knee problem during the group stage and said a healthy lifestyle was keeping him going.

"I recover really well. I must say physically I don't feel tired two days after a match. I am happy," he told a news conference.

"I thank my mother for making me this way. I've always had a professional and rigid lifestyle."

Coach Roberto Donadoni probably could not rest Panucci even if he wanted to.

Centre-back Andrea Barzagli is out of the tournament after undergoing successful knee surgery yesterday in the same clinic where fellow defender Fabio Cannavaro had an ankle operation before the finals got underway.

Marco Materazzi appears out of form while Cannavaro's replacement Alessandro Gamberini has only two caps for the world champions.

Panucci, who played at right-back against the Dutch, said his age meant he was unlikely to play at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, he stopped short of saying he would retire from internationals after the tournament.

"This is the last big opportunity of my career. It would not be sensible to say I was aiming for the 2010 World Cup. But you never say never," he said.

Panucci played for Real Madrid between 1997 and 1999 and said Spain were now a force to be reckoned with having flattered to deceive for many years.

"I understand Spain don't want to play Italy because the history of the Euros is not good for Spain.

Italy have been more prepared for the big competitions but Spain have improved a lot in recent years," he said.

"We know Spain are a strong side with enthusiasm and they will give us problems."