Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo has suffered a calf injury and looks doubtful for their World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 14.
An Italian federation spokesman said that the World Cup winner, injured in Thursday’s 2-1 friendly defeat by Mexico, would miss Saturday’s final friendly with Switzerland in Geneva.
Pirlo has left the Azzurri’s training camp in the Italian Alps to rest at home but is still scheduled to fly out to South Africa with the team on June 8.
Coach Marcello Lippi already has a doubt over winger Mauro Camoranesi, who has a knee injury, and the loss of Pirlo for any games at the World Cup would be a big blow to the holders.