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Chiellini facing three-week injury lay-off
Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 by UEFA.com

Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini will be out of action for around three weeks after suffering a "first-degree strain to his right thigh" in Juventus's final league match of the season.

Chiellini facing three-week injury lay-off
Giorgio Chiellini is expected to be fit in time for Italy's opening UEFA EURO 2012 match

Giorgio Chiellini's fears of missing UEFA EURO 2012 have abated after the Italy defender was told that he will be sidelined for approximately 20 days by the "first-degree strain to his right thigh" sustained at the weekend.

The centre-back underwent a scan after suffering the injury during Juventus's 3-1 victory against Atalanta BC that ensured the Turin team finished the Serie A campaign unbeaten.

The 27-year-old, who appeared in 34 of La Vecchia Signora's 38 league games as they finished with the best defensive record in the division, will miss Sunday's Coppa Italia final against SSC Napoli.

Despite the injury, Chiellini, who made seven of his 50 Azzurri appearances in an impressive UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying campaign in which Cesare Prandelli's side conceded just twice, is expected to recover in time for their first game in Poland and Ukraine.

Italy open their campaign against world and European champions Spain on 10 June before taking on Group C rivals Croatia four days later and the Republic of Ireland on 18 June.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia