Italy midfielder Antonio Conte has accused Romania's Gheorghe Hagi of trying to break his leg in the tackle which ended the Juventus captain's Euro 2000 campaign. Hagi was only booked for the challenge during Saturday night's quarterfinal in Brussels, which Italy won 2-1. But the 35-year-old playmaker was later sent off for a dive in the penalty area in a vain bid to win a penalty. Hagi was subsequently banned for a match by UEFA but the punishment is academic, as the Galatasaray midfielder has said he will retire from international football.

Conte, who suffered damaged ankle ligaments and will be out of action for several weeks, said: "Anyone who plays professional football knows how easy it is to break an opponent's leg. In that moment, I saw it was premeditated. I've no doubt that it was a foul designed to break my leg."

Video replays showed Hagi, himself a victim of a harsh tackle earlier in the match, step over the ball and stamp on Conte's right ankle.

"It's a shame," Conte added. "I was in good shape and playing well. I decided to remain with the team until the end, although I will not be playing. This is the third serious injury of my career, but I'm sure I will be as good as new."

The door is now open for Luigi di Biagio to start against Holland tomorrow. The Inter Milan midfielder, bothered by injury in the build-up to Euro 2000, replaced Conte in Saturday's quarter-final.