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Italy boosted by Chiellini return
Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 by ESPNSTAR.com

Italy boosted by Chiellini return

Italy have received a boost ahead of Euro 2012 with the news Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is set to recover from a muscle injury in time for the tournament.

The centre-back picked up a right thigh strain in Juve's final game of the Serie A season against Atalanta on Sunday and the Turin club confirmed he will be out for 20 days.

Chiellini, who was included in coach Cesare Prandelli's preliminary squad for this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, will miss Sunday's Coppa Italia final against Napoli.

The 27-year-old missed just four league games this season and was key in helping champions Juve finish with the best defensive record in the division with only 20 goals conceded in 38 games.

Italy begin their Euro 2012 campaign against world and European champions Spain on June 10 before taking on Group C rivals Croatia four days later and the Republic of Ireland on June 18.

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