Duisburg: Defender Alessandro Nesta is still recovering from a right thigh injury and remains in doubt for Italy's World Cup semi-final match with Germany.

Nesta will have a new round of medical exams on Sunday. Italy face the World Cup hosts on Tuesday in Dortmund. Nesta has missed Italy's last two games, a second-round win over Australia and Friday's 3-0 win over Ukraine in the quarter finals.

Inexperienced Andrea Barzagli replaced Nesta against Ukraine. Marco Materazzi returns from a one-game suspension and could step in against Germany, as he did in the game with Australia. (AP)