INTERVIEW-Soccer-Vieira still a doubt for World Cup final repeat

By Mark Meadows

MILAN, Aug 30 (Reuters) - France captain Patrick Vieira remains a doubt for the Euro 2008 qualifier against world champions Italy a week on Saturday.

The Inter Milan midfielder missed the start of the Serie A season with a hamstring strain but could recover in time for the San Siro clash, a repeat of the World Cup final.

Vieira was named in Raymond Domenech's squad on Thursday for the Italy match and the home qualifier with Scotland four days later.

"I am going to join the national team on Monday and we will see if I'm going to be fit," Vieira told Reuters in an interview. "It's a really important game but I won't be taking any risks.

"I want to have as much of a chance as possible to play in this game. I want to play at my home ground but the game against Scotland is as important as the Italy game."

France, who beat second-placed Italy 3-1 in Paris last September, have a two-point lead over Roberto Donadoni's side at the top of Group B.

Italy lost 3-1 in a friendly in Hungary last week with Marco Materazzi suffering a thigh injury which will keep him out for a minimum of two months while fellow defender Fabio Cannavaro produced one of his worst displays for the Azzurri.