Juventus' goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Sampdoria defender Lorenzo de Silvestri were injured in the last Italy game against Croatia. Even though both injuries are ones of differing severities, both proved to be detrimental for the team's success in a tie against tough opposition.
Buffon's injury came in the phase of play where Mario Mandzukic scored the first goal for Croatia. The Atletico Madrid striker notched up a tap-in but his studs made contact with the goalkeeper, so he spent a period receiving treatment while the Croat celebrated his opener.
Buffon should recover quickly
"Buffon had a nasty cut to his knee and I needed to put in at least 10 stitches in an incident that occurred during the goal," Italy's team doctor Enrico Castellacci told Rai Sport. Buffon wasn't able to continue playing, and was replaced by PSG keeper Salvatore Sirigu at half-time.
De Silvestri's injury was a bit more complicated. The Sampdoria defender got injured when he blocked a shot from Inter Milan's Mateo Kovacic and he fell awkwardly on the pitch, twisting his knee in the process. De Silvestri was taken off on a stretcher in the 27th minute, with Mattia De Sciglio his replacement.
"De Silvestri had a pretty violent knee sprain, so he will clearly return to Genoa for tests with his club," Castellacci said about the Sampdoria right-back. "That movement of the knee is worrying".
ACL tear and more for De Silvestri
Unfortunately for the right-back, the worst possible news has been now confirmed. De Silvestri was taken back to Genoa to undergo some tests and the 27-year-old has been diagnosed with an injury to both his anterior cruciate ligament and the external meniscus.
He already underwent surgery in Rome and he will be sidelined for between six to eight months.
Antonio Conte will now have a tough time to find a replacement for De Silvestri who, even though he was making only his fourth appearance with Gli Azzurri, had emerged as a viable option as a right-back. De Sciglio is expected to fill the void left by the Sampdoria defender.