Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss the European Championships after rupturing anterior cruciate ligaments while playing for Juventus.
The 30-year-old, who has 54 Italy caps, was withdrawn during the first half of Juve's 4-0 Serie A victory over Palermo on Sunday and subsequent scans have discovered a serious knee injury that should sideline him for at least six months.
Confirming fears Marchisio might miss Juve's league run-in and May's Coppa Italia final meeting with AC Milan, as well as a Euro 2016 campaign with the Azzurri in France, a statement published on the website said the Turin-born midfielder would undergo surgery in the coming days.
Italy are due to face the Republic of Ireland in Lille in both sides' final Euro 2016 Group E fixture on Wednesday, 22 June.
