Thigh confines Iaquinta to Juventus sidelines

Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta must sit out Juventus's opening UEFA Europa League fixtures after he suffered a recurrence of the thigh problem which plagued him at the FIFA World Cup.

Juventus will be without Vincenzo Iaquinta for their UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie against Shamrock Rovers FC or Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC, with the striker nursing a thigh problem. Iaquinta was troubled by a painful right thigh during Italy's FIFA World Cup campaign in South Africa, and has continued to struggle since returning to his club. The former Udinese Calcio player will be sidelined for about a month.

Although Juventus coach Luigi Delneri should be able to call on the 30-year-old for the start of the Serie A season, Iaquinta will play no part in the Turin side's European openers, scheduled for 29 July and 5 August. Shamrock Rovers and Bnei Yehuda are level at 1-1 going into Thursday's deciding leg in Israel of their second qualifying round tie.