If Salvatore Sirigu starts against England tonight for the injured Gigi Buffon, it’ll be his second competitive cap.
If Salvatore Sirigu starts against England tonight for the injured Gigi Buffon, it’ll be his second competitive cap.
Buffon sprained his left ankle during the training session at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus last night and is a major doubt to feature in this evening’s World Cup opener.
Sirigu is therefore expected to play, even though the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper isn’t 100 per cent fit either due to bruised ribs.
If ex-Palermo man Sirigu does start, it will be only his second competitive match in an Azzurri jersey.
He has eight caps to his name, but seven of them are friendlies, interrupted only by a 2-1 victory in Estonia on September 3, 2010.
That game was a Euro 2012 qualifier in Tallinn.
Over his eight caps for Italy, Sirigu has conceded eight goals, but performed well in the 0-0 against the Republic of Ireland on May 31.
Probable line-ups
England: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines; Gerrard, Henderson; Lallana, Rooney, Welbeck; Sturridge
Italy: Sirigu; Darmian, Barzagli, Paletta, Chiellini; De Rossi; Candreva, Pirlo, Verratti, Marchisio; Balotelli