DUISBURG, July 6: Italy defender Alessandro Nesta has been ruled out of Sunday's World Cup final against France in Berlin through injury.

“He's definitely not available,” Enrico Castellacci, Italy's team doctor, told reporters on Thursday.

Nesta has not played since the last group game against Czech Republic when he picked up a groin injury which forced him to sit out the second round match against Australia, the quarter-final with Ukraine and Tuesday's semi-final win over Germany.

Marco Materazzi, who started against Germany, is again expected to partner captain Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of an Italian defence which has conceded just one goal in the tournament.—Reuters