Gianluigi Buffon could miss rest of World Cup 2014... and stand-in Salvatore Sirigu is struggling with a bruised rib



Gianluigi Buffon hurt ankle in final training session before England game

He will miss the game in Manaus, is rated doubtful for the second game against Costa Rica and could miss the tournament entirely



Experienced Juventus goalkeeper is most-capped Italian player of all time

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu set to deputise

Buffon's absence blamed for Italy's poor showing at 2010 World Cup



First-choice left-back Mattia di Sciglio set to miss the game with calf strain

Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon's World Cup could be over before it begins after the veteran goalkeeper suffered a twisted ankle in training.



The 36-year-old Juventus keeper is out of Italy's opening game at the 2014 World Cup against England and is a doubt for the Azzurri's second match against Costa Rica.

With Paris Saint-Germain's Salvatore Sirigu set to deputise, Buffon is in a race to be fit to for Italy's final Group D game against Uruguay on June 24.

But Sigiru has also been struggling with a bruised rib – but the 27-year-old promised Prandelli on the morning of the England game that he was fit to play.

VIDEO Scroll down for Prandelli: Italy are happy with the pitch and ready for England

Spectator sport: Gigi Bufon sits on the bench before Italy's encounter with England

Ruled out: Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon out of the match against England on Saturday night All smiles: Buffon hugs a team-mate during training before leaving the session early due to injury

Buffon gave Italy a scare in training on Friday night after kicking the turf while attempting to boot a dead-ball. He twisted the ankle, which is his main problem, but also jarred his left leg and aggravated a thigh problem

Buffon hobbled off and later tweeted: 'there are many ways to be important, even if you can't be a protagonist on the pitch. ... So go Salvatore.'

The third goalkeeper in the squad is uncapped 21-year-old, Mattia Perin, of Genoa, who was criticised for his performance by the Brazilian media when he conceded three in a practice match against Fluminense last week.



The goalkeeping crisis adds to Prandelli's defensive woes. The Italy boss lost his first-choice left-back Mattia di Sciglio, when the AC Milan full-back suffered a calf strain in training on Thursday.

It has not forced him home but he will not be fit for the Group D game in Manaus, which means a reshuffle at the back.

It was unclear whether the Italians would settle for switching Torino’s Matteo Darmian to the left and bring in Ignazio Abate of AC Milan at right-back, or whether he would move Giorgio Chiellini from centre-half to left-back and start with Parma’s Gabriel Paletta in the middle.

Defensive power has always been Italy’s great strength but Prandelli’s team have struggled at the back, which has already prompted the manager to push Andrea Pirlo forward from his preferred deep midfield role to accommodate Daniele de Rossi as a screener, protecting the centre-halves. He will be most reluctant to move Chiellini, who has been his rock.

Follow: Mario Balotelli (left) walks next to Italy's coach Cesare Prandelli during the training session in Manaus

Instructions: Prandelli talks to his players during their last training session before the England match

Buffon is the country’s most-capped footballer of all time, has been first-choice in goal for nearly 15 years and won the World Cup in 2006.

Italy’s poor display four years ago in South Africa was largely attributed to his absence, when he was forced off with a sciatic nerve problem during the opening game.

Striker: Ciro Immobile (left) could be in line for a starting spot against England

'Pirlo and Buffon are our most important players,' said Chiellini. 'They’ve got character and they make the whole team play, so we need to take good care of them.'



Prandelli did not blame Buffon’s twist on the pitch in Manaus which is not perfect.