Nesta ruled out

DUISBURG: Italy defender Alessandro Nesta has been ruled out of Sunday’s final against France after failing to recover from a right thigh injury. “I announce with great displeasure that he’s not available for Sunday,” Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci said on Thursday. Nesta has missed Italy’s last three matches after aggravating a long-term injury in Italy’s 2-0 win over Czech Republic in the first round. He has been bothered by the muscle problem on

and off for the last couple months.

Mertesacker out

BERLIN: Germany central defender Per Mertesacker will miss the third-place match against Portugal on Saturday after surgery on his left heel. Mertesacker left the team’s base in Berlin on Thursday and flew to Munich for the operation to repair the damaged heel, team spokesman Harald Stenger said. The German team will fly to Stuttgart on Friday and return to Berlin on Sunday for a party with its fans.

Concrete evidence

BERLIN: Berlin police arrested two men on suspicion they placed nine balls filled with cement around the city with messages placed alongside in English challenging passers-by: “Can u kick it?” Three people had a go at the balls attached to trees and lamposts and promptly wished they hadn’t risen to the spoof challenge. The men aged 26 and 29 are now facing charges for causing injury. Three other balls were found at their homes.

Shakira to perform

BERLIN: Colombian singer Shakira will perform ahead of the final at the Olympic Stadium in an 11-minute-long pre-match ceremony, organisers have revealed. “We wanted to keep it short as it precedes the most eagerly awaited match of the tournament,” said organising committee spokesman Gerd Graus. Quartet Il Divo and 400 dancers aged between six and 45 will join Shakira at the gate to the stadium for a performance choreographed by US arranger Doug Jack, whose experience in such matters goes back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.