Cagliari defender Davide Astori, 25, will join up with the Italy squad as cover for Andrea Barzagli who is injured.

Coach Cesare Prandelli said he will not make a final decision until tomorrow as he regards Barzagli, of Juventus, integral to the team’s chances of doing well.

Prandelli’s preferred choice for Barzagli was Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia, but he too is injured. Barzagli, 31, tore a calf muscle and the initial diagnosis was he would definitely be out for three weeks.

Barzagli, a Bundesliga winner with Wolfsburg in 2009 and then with Juventus in Serie A last term, will undergo further scans tomorrow which will then give Prandelli a clearer idea as to whether Astori should replace him or not.

Italy play champions Spain first up in Gdansk on Sunday.

Without Barzagli, Prandelli is likely to align in his three-man defence midfielder Daniele de Rossi as Barzagli’s replacement, with Leonardo Bonucci on the right and Giorgio Chiellini on the left.

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