Former AC Milan and Italy striker Christian Vieri could miss the World Cup after injuring his left knee in a match for his club-side Monaco against Paris St-Germain.

Vieri received the injury while playing for Monaco in the French league on Sunday and is undergoing medical tests in Italy today, according to the Italian sports daily, Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vieri transferred from AC Milan to Monaco in January in order to gain more first-team football, with the aim of making Marcello Lippi's Italy World Cup squad.

Vieri missed the Azzurri's friendly with Germany after he injured his left ankle while training with Italian squad the day before the March 1 friendly.

It was on Sunday that Vieri made his return to Monaco's starting lineup, but was forced off the pitch in the eighth minute after a hard tackle by Paris Saint-Germain's Bernard Mendy.

If Vieri fails to return to fitness in time for the World Cup, which runs for a month from June 9, Italy coach Marcello Lippi could recall inform Filippo Inzaghi or Antonio Cassano, who has rarely played lately for Real Madrid.

Roma playmaker Francesco Totti's recovery from surgery on his left leg is still on schedule and the striker is expected to be fit for the tournament in Germany.

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