The Italy squad received a massive boost last night when the team doctor announced Alessandro Del Piero had passed a medical on his right thigh and is on course to be fit for the World Cup. There were fears the Juventus striker might miss the tournament after he picked up the injury in last week's European Cup final defeat against Real Madrid but Del Piero reassured manager Cesare Maldini and said: The muscle feels much better than it did last week. For the first couple of days after the European Cup final I couldn't hide my disappointment - partly because we'd lost to Real Madrid and partly because I was injured. Now things look much brighter.
Maldini, who has pinned Italy's World Cup hopes on Del Piero, named him only provisionally in his 22-man squad pending fitness tests but he easily passed an initial medical at the Italian training camp near Florence.
There's a notable improvement in his right adductor muscle, team doctor Andrea Ferretti said. I can confirm he's ready to start light training as from today. We'll monitor his situation over the next few days and give him another full medical before we go to Sweden. So far, he's improving as we'd hoped.
Italy play their final World Cup warm-up match against Sweden in Stockholm on 2 June, the day set by FIFA for coaches to announce their definite squads for France. Parma striker Enrico Chiesa, named as Del Piero's replacement should he fail to recover fitness, will travel to Sweden in case the Juventus player breaks down at the last minute.

JAPANESE GIVEN SEND-OFF FOR SOLDIERS Second Round The Aim Japan's World Cup footballers left yesterday for their Swiss training camp given a wartime send-off and boosted by the news that group rivals Croatia would be without key striker Alen Boksic. But manager Takeshi Okada, who has seen his side go four matches without a win, ruled out complacency before they face Davor Suker and Co. He said: They have a great depth of talent. We cannot rejoice over the absence of a single player. Lazio striker Boksic has a knee injury that requires immediate surgery, ruling him out of the competition. Okada, who with his players was treated to a meal on board their flight to Switzerland normally reserved for soldiers going to war, has set his World Cup debutants a target of reaching the second round. Japan also face Argentina and Jamaica in the group stage and Okada said: I don't feel particularly nervous. I will build a team which can fight Argentina with confidence. Our goal is to break through the first round. Japan, who have only scored twice in their last four games, play two friendlies next week, against fellow qualifiers Mexico and Yugoslavia, before their first group game on 14 June against Argentina.

CROATIA CALL UP NEW RECRUITS Croatian boss Miroslav Blazevic has called up three untried replacements to his squad after Alen Boksic and Igor Cvitanovic were both ruled out of the World Cup this week for different reasons. Blazevic, who is taking Croatia to their first ever World Cup finals, has been forced to do without Lazio and former Juventus striker Boksic because he aggravated a knee injury at the end of last season and his right knee now needs immediate surgery. Then only two days ago Blazevic expelled Cvitanovic from the training camp after the Real Sociedad player complained of being tired and spoke out of turn to the manager, who commented: My authority was being threatened, although I need him in the squad like someone needs bread. Cvitanovic was likely to be first choice reserve behind Boksic and Davor Suker, but now Suker is likely to be partnered by Valencia's Goran Vlaovic, who scored one goal in Euro 96. Blazevic's replacements are the inexperienced striker Alen Peternac, midfielder Boris Zivkovic and defender Danijel Saric. Blazevic, whose World Cup group includes fellow World Cup debutants Japan and Jamaica as well as Argentina, will announce his 22-man squad on 2 June.

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