Italy will have to make do without Giorgio Chiellini for their Euro 2012 quarter-final, after the defender’s thigh strain was confirmed.
Italy will have to make do without Giorgio Chiellini for their Euro 2012 quarter-final, after the defender’s thigh strain was confirmed.
The Juventus man suffered the injury during the Azzurri’s final Group C game against Republic of Ireland on Monday night, with initial fears that he had suffered a thigh strain in his left leg.
Unfortunately for the defender and for Cesare Prandelli, those fears have been confirmed after tests carried out today.
“Unfortunately they confirmed the feelings from yesterday,” chief medic Enrico Castellacci explained to reporters today.
“We tested the player with an ultrasound that showed a stretch of the first degree in the left bicep, which is a previous injury.
“The defender has already started treatment but won’t be there for France [or whichever team Italy face in the last eight].
“It is hard to forecast his recovery, we will see. It is clear though, we are in no hurry with his recovery, the player must return well.”
The player is likely to be unavailable for the duration of the tournament, as this type of injury generally takes up to 20 days to fully recover from.