Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Ireland tomorrow and Cyprus on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

"The player cannot recover in time for the Cyprus match and he'll go back to his club tomorrow," Italy's team doctor Enrico Castellacci told reporters yesterday.

He said Juve's medical team would asses whether the midfielder needs surgery.

Italy need a draw in Ireland to qualify for next year's World Cup as Group Eight winners.

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