Marcello Lippi’s Italy have been given a World Cup scare on Sunday when the Azzurri playmaker Francesco Totti broke a bone in his left leg during AS Roma’s 1-0 win over Empoli in Italy’s Serie A.

Initial reports suggest the 29-year-old Azzurri striker faces roughly two months on the sidelines which, if confirmed, would mean he could still play in the World Cup.

Totti sustained the injury after a tackle by Empoli’s veteran defender Richard Vanigli in their Serie A match on Sunday, which Roma won 1-0.

This will mean that Totti will definitely miss Italy planned World Cup warm up friendly against the hosts of the World Cup, Germany, on March 1.

Totti, who is Roma’s top scorer this season with 15 league goals, which makes him Serie A’s equal third top-scorer, will miss next weekend's Roman derby against Lazio, a game that could see Roma’s Giallorossi become the first Serie A team to win 11 consecutive matches.

The Giallorosso striker will undergo an operation in the next few days, and then a reasonable timescale for recovery will be known.

The news will be a blow to Italy coach Marcello Lippi, as Totti is a pivotal player for the Azzurri's World Cup hopes in Germany in June, but as long as Totti can recover within the timescale predicted then he will be a certainty to make the Azzurri squad for the World Cup Finals.

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