Italy's Ricardo Montolivo ruled out of World Cup with broken tibia

Ricardo Montolivo rolls on the ground in agony as Marco Verratti looks to comfort his countryman

Italy suffered a big blow tonight in their warm up game against Republic of Ireland as their playmaking central midfielder, Ricardo Montolivo was ruled out of the World Cup after sustaining injury in the game.

The AC Milan skipper was taken off in the eighth minutes as a James Pearce challenge on Montolivo left the midfielder writhing in agony with the Azzuri fearing the worst.

Enrico Castellacci, Italy's chief of medical staff whilst speaking to Italian television after the match delivered the dreaded news. Montolivo is expected to miss two months of action and now will head to the surgeon’s table sadly; rather than to Brazil.

“He has a fracture of the tibia,” the medic said. “I’m waiting to see the radio graphical results before assessing everything, but more or less every tibia fracture needs surgery.

“There will be no World Cup for Montolivo, I’m so sorry for the boy. He will probably need around two months out.”