Irene, June 20 (IANS/AKI) Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will undergo a back surgery after the soccer World Cup.
Buffon was forced off the ground with a serious back injury during Italy’s 1-1 draw with Paraguay in their World Cup Group F opener June 14.
The Juventus champion has been diagnosed with a herniated disc and will miss Sunday’s clash with New Zealand, but he is reportedly delaying the operation until after the finals in the hope of returning to the tournament.
‘I thought a lot about it,’ said Buffon. ‘But I have to think about myself before anything else. I will have an operation in Italy after the World Cup’.
According to doctors, Buffon will need up to four months rest after the surgery and is likely to miss the start of the new Serie A season.
Meanwhile, Buffon has been replaced with Federico Marchetti for Sunday’s World Cup match.
‘I am convinced I can play a good game on Sunday,’ said Marchetti, the goalkeeper of Serie A side Cagliari.
