Injury scans for Italy's Nesta and Zambrotta

ROME, June 6 (Reuters) Italy defenders Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta will have scans on niggling injuries on Tuesday as they struggle to regain fitness for the World Cup, the Italian Football Federation told Reuters.

Zambrotta suffered a left thigh strain in training with the Azzurri two weeks ago and Nesta aggravated an old adductor muscle injury in the 0-0 friendly against the Ukraine on Friday.

Both players are fixtures of Italy's first-choice 11.

Zambrotta's injury is thought to be the more serious and the 30-year-old Juventus player risks missing Italy's Group E opener against Ghana on June 12.

He is expected to return, however, for games against the US on June 17 and the Czech Republic on June 22.

Italy, aiming to win their first World Cup since 1982, are scheduled to arrive at their World Cup training base at Duisberg tomorrow.

If Zambrotta fails to recover, Italy coach Marcello Lippi is expected to replace him with Parma's Daniele Bonera.

REUTERS DH ND1520