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World Cup blow for Italy midfielder Montolivo

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Italy will be without Riccardo Montolivo for this month's FIFA World Cup after the midfielder sustained a broken leg in a goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.

Riccardo Montolivo will not feature at the World Cup
Riccardo Montolivo will not feature at the World Cup ©Getty Images

Italy have been dealt a major blow after midfielder Riccardo Montolivo was ruled out of this month's FIFA World Cup with a broken leg sustained in Saturday's goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland.  

"He has a broken fibula, as we suspected," confirmed the Azzurri's doctor Enrico Castellacci after the friendly match at Fulham FC's Craven Cottage. "I haven't seen the scars yet so I cannot evaluate the extent of the injury but we're resigned to a broken bone and we're expecting surgery."

Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu said: "We are really sorry for what happened to Riccardo. Everyone is really sad." Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio added: "I'm not really thinking about the match because Motolivio's injury was really bad and we're sharing his pain." The 29-year-old flew back to Milan on Sunday to be evaluated by the Rossoneri's medical staff.

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