Nigeria Content Online

Italy goalkeeper,
Gianluigi Buffon, could miss the rest of the World Cup with a back
problem after doctors said his recovery time was impossible to estimate
following further tests on Wednesday.

The 2006 World Cup
winner, still widely regarded as one of the best keepers in the world,
has a small herniated disc after suffering a sciatic nerve problem
before Monday’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay in Italy’s Group F opener. The
32-year-old is definitely out of Sunday’s game against New Zealand,
will almost certainly not play in the final group match with Slovakia
on June 24 and could miss much more.

“Certainly on Sunday he can’t be on the field,” Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci told reporters.

“We have decided he
will stay with us and we will try everything for him to recover. When
talking about a herniated disc, even small, we can’t say how long it
will take.”

Filling the shoes

Injury-prone
Buffon, who has suffered a similar problem in the past, was substituted
at halftime on Monday having first indicated his discomfort in the
pre-match warm-up. Inexperienced keeper, Federico Marchetti, who
replaced Buffon on Monday, is now poised to start on Sunday in
Nelspruit for only his seventh cap. Marchetti was playing in Italy’s
second division just two years ago. Castellacci said Italy had already
asked FIFA for permission to give Buffon special medication to treat
the problem which although small can cause intense pain. Italy centre
back Giorgio Chiellini bemoaned the loss of Juventus team mate Buffon,
but was confident Marchetti was ready.

“It’s obvious how
much he’s worth to the team, and playing with him all season I know how
important the World Cup is to him,” he told reporters. “Marchetti did a
good job when he came on. He’s got a lot of quality and he won’t have
any problem replacing Gigi. Goalkeepers live in their own world, so I
think the best person to help him out is Gigi. The only thing I can
provide is tranquillity. He doesn’t need my advice.”

Midfielder, Andrea Pirlo, who missed the opener with a calf problem,
and will skip the New Zealand game as well, is on course to possibly be
available for the Slovakia clash. The rest of the squad trained
normally in warmer conditions after Tuesday’s biting cold.