Italy and Monaco striker Christian Vieri's possibilities of playing in the upcoming World Cup have taken a knock due to a knee injury.
The strikers club said that tests on the player's leg revealed damage to his left knee's meniscus and ligaments. He picked up the injury seven minutes into Sunday's 1-1 draw against Paris St. Germain.
Doctors say it is difficult to forecast how long it will take him to recover, at this stage. But with Italy coach Marcello Lippi due to announce his 23-man squad for Germany 2006 in a month and a half's time, Vieri is in for a race against time.