Italy icon Fabio Cannavaro on Wednesday underwent an operation to repair ankle ligaments torn in a Euro 2008 training ground incident earlier this week.
Doctors said the operation was a ''perfect'' success and the 34-year-old Real Madrid defender would be back in action in two months.
The half-hour surgery was performed in a private clinic in Vienna by an Italy squad specialist assisted by Real Madrid's surgeon and the Euro 2008 medical chief, Christian Gaebler.
Gaebler told the press the op had been ''super''.
The Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) said the inspirational Italy skipper was wheeled back to his room ''smiling and joking'' with FIGC officials including Italy great Gigi Riva.
After routine checks Cannavaro will return to Italy's training camp at Bern, Austria, on Wednesday evening.
Cannavaro has received a special pass for the European championships after expressing his desire to stay with his team mates and do what he can for the cause, FIGC chief Giancarlo Abete said.
The Naples-born stopper's sunny but steely reputation was confirmed this week by his determination not to let the injury put him out of the game for good.
Instead, he surprised many observers by announcing Tuesday that he now had his eye on the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
''You're going to have to put up with me for another two years,'' quipped the iconic skipper, who will be 35 in September.
The World Cup hero, nicknamed The Berlin Wall for his Player of the Year winning performances at Germany 2006, said he would be staying on at Euro 2008 ''to support Italy and help it at moments of difficulty''.
Fiorentina's Alessandro Gamberini has been drafted in to replace Cannavaro in the squad but Marco Materazzi is widely expected to take his position on the field.
The captain's arm-band has been handed to goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.
Italy's first match in the so-called Group of Death is against the Netherlands on June 9.
It then meets Romania and France on June 13 and 17 respectively.
