Italy's Albertini ruled out of World Cup
Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini will miss the World Cup finals after his club AC Milan said on Monday that he had been ruled out for two to three months with an Achilles tendon injury.
Albertini, who has won 79 caps for Italy, suffered the injury during Sunday's 1-0 Serie A defeat at Juventus.
The 30-year-old had been part of Giovanni Trapattoni's Italy squad in their unbeaten qualification campaign for the World Cup but his regular starting place had been threatened by poor form and persistent injuries.
Milan said on their official website that club doctor Rodolfo Tavana and his team had ruled the player out for "two to three months if there are no complications".
The World Cup in South Korea and Japan starts on May 31.
"(Milan coach Carlo) Ancelotti loses him for three games, Trapattoni for an entire World Cup," said Milan's website.
Albertini had a knee operation last May that kept him out for six months and although he returned to action in September his progress was frequently restricted by injuries.
His place in the final World Cup squad had been in doubt but he was recalled for last month's friendly against England in which he made a substitute appearance.
With Trapattoni opting for experienced players in the warm-up games for the finals, Albertini was also selected for Wednesday's friendly with Uruguay before suffering his injury.
A cultured central midfielder, Albertini was part of the successful Milan side of the early 1990's that dominated Italian and European competition.
He made his Italy debut in 1991 against Cyprus and was a regular in Arrigo Sacchi's side, which lost to Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final.
Four years later he was a member of Cesare Maldini's team that reached the quarter-finals before losing to hosts and eventual winners France and he played in the final of Euro 2000 in which Italy lost, again to France, on a 'golden goal'.
_____________________
From eurosport.com
Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini will miss the World Cup finals after his club AC Milan said on Monday that he had been ruled out for two to three months with an Achilles tendon injury.
Albertini, who has won 79 caps for Italy, suffered the injury during Sunday's 1-0 Serie A defeat at Juventus.
The 30-year-old had been part of Giovanni Trapattoni's Italy squad in their unbeaten qualification campaign for the World Cup but his regular starting place had been threatened by poor form and persistent injuries.
Milan said on their official website that club doctor Rodolfo Tavana and his team had ruled the player out for "two to three months if there are no complications".
The World Cup in South Korea and Japan starts on May 31.
"(Milan coach Carlo) Ancelotti loses him for three games, Trapattoni for an entire World Cup," said Milan's website.
Albertini had a knee operation last May that kept him out for six months and although he returned to action in September his progress was frequently restricted by injuries.
His place in the final World Cup squad had been in doubt but he was recalled for last month's friendly against England in which he made a substitute appearance.
With Trapattoni opting for experienced players in the warm-up games for the finals, Albertini was also selected for Wednesday's friendly with Uruguay before suffering his injury.
A cultured central midfielder, Albertini was part of the successful Milan side of the early 1990's that dominated Italian and European competition.
He made his Italy debut in 1991 against Cyprus and was a regular in Arrigo Sacchi's side, which lost to Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final.
Four years later he was a member of Cesare Maldini's team that reached the quarter-finals before losing to hosts and eventual winners France and he played in the final of Euro 2000 in which Italy lost, again to France, on a 'golden goal'.
_____________________
From eurosport.com
