Italy lose Marchisio

TURIN, Italy (AP):

Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio will miss the European Championship after injuring his knee while playing for Juventus yesterday.

Marchisio was stretchered off in the 15th minute in visible pain after making a tackle. Tests revealed he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Juventus beat Palermo 4-0 to move nine points clear in Serie A, with five rounds remaining.

"Just got back home," Marchisio said later in a post on his Instagram account. "The news from the scan obviously hurts me, but these are the risks of our job. I have strength and so much desire to get back well and as soon as possible.

"Meanwhile, inside of me there is great joy for this win. We're ever closer to the great aim. Well done lads. Until the end, we never give up."

Juventus said Marchisio will be operated on "in the next few days". It is not clear how long he will be out for, but it normally takes around four to six months to recover from such an injury.

Italy kicks off its Euro 2016 campaign against Belgium on June 13. It also faces Sweden and Ireland in Group E.

valuable player

Marchisio is a fundamental part of the Italy team. The 30-year-old midfielder has made 54 appearances for the Azzurri since his debut in 2009, scoring five goals.

"It will be a huge loss," Juventus and Italy team-mate Leonardo Bonucci said. "Claudio is a leader in this dressing room and that of the national team, apart from being a really great footballer."

Bonucci also wrote on his Instagram account: "An important victory, but there is nothing to celebrate. Today, we lost, for several months, an important player for Juve and the national team. Stay strong Marchisio. We will win for you and we're expecting you (back) stronger than ever."