Ireland’s Euro 2016 rivals Italy have had their summer plans rattled with the news that midfielder Marco Verratti will miss the European Championships.
His club Paris Saint Germain said in a statement on Friday that Verratti will miss out due to surgery on a groin injury.
Verratti will have the operation on 16 May and is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.
"As a result, Marco Verratti will play no part in Paris St Germain's final matches of the season, or Euro 2016, to be held in France," PSG said in a statement on their website.
The news comes as a boost to Ireland, who take on Italy in their final Euro Group E game in Lille on Wednesday, June 22.
Verratti was out of action for two months from February but returned to play two games as a substitute at the end of April.
His absence from the European Championships is likely to be keenly felt by Italy manager Antonio Conte, whose side face three testing fixtures in the group stage against Belgium, Ireland and Sweden.
He will also miss PSG's final three games of the Ligue 1 season, as well as the French Cup final against Olympique de Marseille on May 21.
Italy were already without one of their front-line midfielders, Claudio Marchisio having been ruled out through injury last month.
