Injured Buffon out of Euro 2000

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is out of Euro 2000

Norway 1-0 Italy

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has been ruled out of Euro 2000 after fracturing his hand in a friendly defeat in Norway.

Buffon was taken to hospital in Oslo merely as a precaution after falling badly as he tried in vain to prevent John Carew heading the only goal for Norway.

But team doctors confirmed the Parma keeper will not be fit to take part in the tournament, with Fiorentina's Francesco Toldo likely to take his place during Euro 2000.

Coach Dino Zoff has called up AC Milan's Christian Abbiati to join the squad.

Former number one Angelo Peruzzi told Zoff last month that he did not want to be part of the squad if he was only third choice, leaving Roma's Francesco Antonioli with the other goalkeeping place in the squad.

Italy also lost midfielder Antonio Conte with an ankle injury in the first half, though Zoff insisted: "He will be back to fitness quickly."

Carew, who leaves Rosenborg Trondheim this summer to sign for European Cup finalists Valencia, headed home a perfect cross from defender Vegard Heggem to give Buffon no chance for the only goal on 52 minutes.

John Carew is sandwiched between Alessandro Nesta (left) and Ciro Ferra

A disappointing Italian side created few chances and rarely looked like finding a way back into the game.

Norway on the other hand have still lost only three matches under coach Semb and had several chances to add to their tally.

Tore Andre Flo wasted the best of them when he headed over the bar with 15 minutes left.

Norway: Myhre, Bergdolmo, Bragstad, Mykland, Flo (Riseth 79), Skammelsrud, Heggem (Bjornebye 67), Eggen (Andersen 60), Carew (Riise 90), Bakke (Strand 66), Solskjaer. Italy: Buffon (Toldo 56), Maldini, Albertini, Cannavaro, Conte (Ambrosini 27), Inzaghi, Pessotto, Nesta (Iuliano 86), Zambrotta, Fiore (Del Piero 46), Totti.