By MIKE NASTRI
After a disappointing tie with Paraguay, Italy received more bad news on Tuesday with the word that star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has a serious back injury.
Buffon, one of the world's best at his position, twinged his sciatic nerve and was substituted for at halftime by Federico Marchetti.
Castellacci said there is no firm return date and that the injury could keep Buffon out of the rest of the tournament. The team is already battling the injury bug with Andrea Pirlo out at least until the final group-stage game and Mauro Camoranesi not 100 percent fit.
The loss of Buffon would be a significant blow for the defending World Cup champions. Marchetti, with just six caps to his name, is inexperienced at the international level.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
TORRES TO MISS SPAIN OPENER
Spain striker Fernando Torres likely will sit out the team's first group match Wednesday against Switzerland. While Torres has trained leading up to the World Cup, the team is being cautious with him as he is coming off April knee surgery. He came on as a substitute and scored in Spain's final World Cup tune-up, a 6-0 victory over Poland.
Spain did receive some good news, as midfielder Andres Iniesta has been declared fit enough to play in La Furia Roja's first match. Iniesta hurt his thigh in the Poland friendly, but Spain coach Vicente del Bosque reportedly said he thinks Iniesta will be available.
ROBBEN STILL NOT READY
Netherlands head coach Bert van Marwijk said Arjen Robben is still eight days away from playing in a match for his side. If the eight days hold up, Robben will miss the Dutch's match against fellow group leader Japan. The Bayern Munich standout injured his left hamstring in a friendly against Hungary last week.
BROADCASTS ATTEMPT TO SILENCE VUVUZELAS
Although FIFA backed the African horns dominating the ears of viewers across the world, the broadcasters of the World Cup will attempt to stifle the vuvuzelas. Host Broadcasting Services announced that they are doubling their audio filters in attempts to quiet the vuvuzelas.
This will mute down other natural sounds of the game, but HBS felt it was necessary due to the large number of complaints about the plastic horns throughout the first week of the World Cup.
HONDURAS DOWN A PAIR
Honduras will be without the services of Julio Cesar de Leon, who suffered an injured hamstring in training. The Torino midfielder will undergo a scan today, but it doesn't look promising for the Honduran to start against Chile on Wednesday.
Honduras was already down a key player, as David Suazo is still recovering from a hamstring injury. Suazo has been training with the team, but Honduras will likely keep the Genoa striker rested for the later group games.
PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER NEWS
Argentinian midfielder Juan Riquelme looks set to join West Ham United on a two-year deal.
Yossi Benayoun has agreed to a four-year deal with Chelsea, seemingly to fill Joe Cole's vacant roster spot. The Israeli midfielder will become the first player to leave Liverpool following Rafa Benitez's departure. Chelsea and Liverpool have not agreed on a transfer fee yet.
Serbian midfielder Zoran Tosic is leaving Manchester United for CSKA Moscow. Tosic cracked the first team just five times for United, but had a successful season on-loan for recently relegated Cologne of the Bundesliga.
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How far do you think Italy can advance without Buffon? Like Spain's chances against the Swiss without Torres? Do you think it's worth trying to mute the vuvuzela noise? What do you make of Honduras' chances in Group H? How do you feel about the latest transfer buzz?
Share your thoughts below.
I got annoyed with the horns at Confed Cup, but now I think I can drown them out. Or maybe the technicians at Disney/ABC/ESPN are equalizing so that they are minimized. I hear EVERY SINGLE WORD that Martin says, and his compadre for the Brazil game. Now whether I understand the accent is another question. Look, I am just thankful that we can watch games live, in HD, and with fantastic camera angles. The buzzing is minor, compared to the benefits of watching in 2010.
How is that more insulting?
he wouldn’t?
Italy is going to have a terrible time scoring goals, so the loss of Buffon is the least of their problems…
I’m not English, and I hate the vuvuzelas. It sounds like a yeti having a seizure for 90 minutes. Awful awful sound.
Heh… Politically correct? fifa? Thats almost funny…
NO, don’t mute the vuvuzela noise and the natural noises of the game for weak fans, make the fans mute the noise themselves!!!!!!!!
I want to hear the roars and the excitement, that includes horns… get with it moaners
Probably just all the english making an excuse for the tie that feels like a loss
Why would Landon want to be at Chelsea? He would never see time…
If they have started this, I noticed it in the Brazil game. I could actually hear the crowd chear for shots on goal and for the goals themselves. I even heard some chearing!
The horns are a disaster and FIFA is just another politically correct “world” organization that doesn’t want to offend cultures and ban the stupid f’ing horns.
It’s a horrible move for Benayoun – going to the rival where you will probably sit on the bench for the next 4 years…
Feeling sad for him.
Donovan said that if the USA can’t beat Slovenia, they don’t deserve to be in the next round. That’s probably more insulting than saying “we’re going to win.” I don’t care that much, but if it fires up the US players then fine by me.
If Italy had an acupuncturist on staff Buffon would be back training in about…1 hour.
He’s probably my favourite Liverpool player besides Kuyt and Torres.
They’ve been gunning for some type of high profile name, all off-season, for promotional purposes to reinvigorate their fan base.
Beckham, Henry, etc and it appears they finally got one to commit.
When you take a step back, who else does that strategy remind you of? Novel idea, apparently, that isn’t excluded even in England’s highest division.
Hopefully not.
After their supporters burned the American flag in protest of their owners (however inept they’ve been)…I’ll never let that go.
Their native supporters have always been extremely hard to like in the eyes of many but that pushed be over the top.
Equally hoping Roy Hodgson doesn’t take the post there, as that man represents all kinds of class and Liverpool will forever be on the opposite end of the spectrum.
So much for Landon Donovan replacing Joe Cole…
LD to Liverpool maybe?
That Torres story your linking to is from the 13th today is the 15th have searched Marca.com and AS.com and the only issue with spain is if they decide to play Iniesta.
This is a bad move, one of riquelme’s biggest faults is his inability to get back on defense that and he has said it before he does not like to defend.
Right, I understand that as the tournament continues it gets more exciting. This isn’t my first rodeo. However, for the points I listed above, it has been the worst World Cup to date.
There are ways to completely filter out the vuvuzelas. I hope ESPN gets it done
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/06/how-to-silence-vuvuzela-horns-with-an-eq-filter/
Bad break for Italy. Even though you rather have the experienced keeper in Buffon, Marchetti is good.
By the way, who is this Turkey for Slovenia guaranteeing a win against the U.S.A? What Nerve!!!
Beta, we haven’t even completed the first set of group games. There will be plenty of drama and good football in the weeks ahead, when the stakes are higher (must win games, PKs in knockout stages, teams getting into rhythm, etc.). Patience Beta-san, patience.
definitely. Riquelme has some very very good years left in him and will probably start in the midfield above scott parker and jack collison. where this leaves mark noble i dont know. maybe he could play a holding mid role if adam grant chooses to play a diamond midfield.
It’s mad that even having one of its most prolific club scorers out, Spain are still a world class side.
Man this world cup is in desperate need of some excitement. Between the ball that floats forever, all of the injured stars, half empty stadiums, and the loud vuvuzelas, this has been one of the worst world cups I’ve ever watched.
I know, I’m surprised more hasn’t been made of this
Benayoun!! Not a great year but I like that guy. Guess that means no Donovan to Chelsea.
holy shiet! didnt see this coming…riquelme to west ham. this is gonna be fun.