Riccardo Montolivo has reflected on how he has dealt with his injury, as he asserts Italy can make at least the World Cup semi-finals.

The midfielder will be watching the Azzurri kick off their campaign in Brazil on June 14 against England from home, having suffered a fractured leg in the national team’s warm-up fixture against Republic of Ireland at the end of May.

Riccardo Montolivo has reflected on how he has dealt with his injury, as he asserts Italy can make at least the World Cup semi-finals.

The midfielder will be watching the Azzurri kick off their campaign in Brazil on June 14 against England from home, having suffered a fractured leg in the national team’s warm-up fixture against Republic of Ireland at the end of May.

“The injury was a mixture of anger and disappointment,” Montolivo has considered on the injury in today’s edition of the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“When I got hurt I understood, I went to the doctor and when I tried to get back up, I heard a crack and saw the World Cup vanish.

“I thought it was bad luck, I’m a fatalist and I have taken it the right way. It is part of the game and of life. You cannot decide, but if you do fall, you have to get back up.

“In that week I got married and missed the greatest opportunity of my career. It was not all easy, but we must accept it. I reviewed the images and when I was on the stretcher I looked lost.

“The difficult moment was in the evening in the hotel when my teammates and the staff came to console me. I fled in tears.

“They were all great, Chiellini writes to me every morning to know how I am. On the evening of the injury Galliani called me. He was having dinner with Inzaghi and Berlusconi and I spoke to all three. The President had beautiful words and Galliani waited for me when I arrived in Milan.

“Milan has made me feel very well, as have the fans. In Florence only Antognoni and a few others made themselves felt, that’s it.

“Inzaghi? He is full of desire and energy, he wants to start a project at Milan. He sees me as a regista and that is the role that is best suited to my characteristics.

“Seedorf? Something broke between the Coach and the club, they were not in tune.”

The 29-year-old considered Italy’s chances this summer.

“Now, I will follow the World Cup as a fan, like when I was not playing and I went to the streets with friends.

“I believe, however, that we will get to the final or semi-final, as we did in the European Championships.

“Brazil, Spain and Germany are stronger, with Argentina and the Netherlands we are competing and it will be important for us from the debut against England.

“The risk is to be fooled by the tension and excessive desire to do well. But it’s not going to happen. There is the right mix of experienced and young players.

“The core of the group is from the European Championships and the new faces can bring something extra.

“Balotelli? He can express his potential with continuity, it has been hard for him to concentrate only on the field.

“But the World Cup can be a great occasion for Mario and a turning point in his career. He may prove a lot in this World Cup.”

Byrob

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