France captain Patrick Vieira will not be fit to play in Tuesday's Group C game against world champions Italy at Euro 2008 after failing to recover from a thigh injury. ( dpa )
Vieira, who has missed both of France's games at the tournament, said Monday he still felt pain and did not know when he would again be able to play.
Coach Raymond Domenench had hoped to have the 31-year-old Inter Milan midfielder on board for a game France need to win to have any chance of staying in the tournament.
Matthieu Flamini had been called up as cover but has since been sent home after Vieira had made good progress following a slight muscle tear before the tournament.