Gattuso blow for Italy
Gennaro Gattuso will miss the opening two matches of Italy's World Cup challenge.
Gennaro Gattuso will miss the opening two matches of Italy's World Cup challenge.
The combative midfielder has suffered a leg injury which will rule the Milan hard man out of action for a fortnight.
The injury means Gattuso will miss Italy's first game against Ghana on June 12 and the June 17 encounter with USA.
Gattuso could be fit to return to the Azzurri engine room for the final Group E fixture against Czech Republic in Hamburg on June 22.
Italy coach Marcello Lippi confirmed the setback, but revealed he has no plans to call up a replacement for Gattuso.
"I won't replace Gattuso for the World Cup," affirmed Lippi. "On the pitch it will be so, but he will stay with us.
"A duty on injuries must be paid at a world championship sooner or later.
"Sometimes, it's better to pay it before."
In addition to being without Gattuso against Ghana, Lippi is also unlikely to be able to select Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta for the meeting with the World Cup debutants in Hannover.
