Italy keeper Buffon says he's ready to play in 2 days

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Italy was counting on goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to pull the aging Azzurri through another World Cup. Sidelined with injuries for several months this season, he declared himself ready just in time for another trip to football's marquee event, and the nation's hopes seemed to surge because of it. Yet on Monday, the 32-year-old Buffon could not return for Italy's second half in the opening 1-1 draw against Paraguay because he could no longer stand the pain of a sciatic nerve problem in his lower back. It leaves him in doubt for the remainder of the World Cup, although the ever-optimistic Buffon claims he'll be fit again "in two days." Italy's team doctor Enrico Castellacci said Buffon would have medical tests Tuesday to determine the extent of his injuries. "The exams will determine what to do and what type of therapy will be required and then we can sketch a recovery plan," Castellacci said. As always, Buffon believes anything is possible, including a recovery for Sunday's second Group F game against New Zealand. "I'm hoping to recover in two days," he said. The Juventus keeper already recovered from left knee surgery in December and back problems later. So he was confident he could beat more pain when his back suddenly flared during the last warmup for the match. "I thought I tore something apart, but it turned out I just aggravated my sciatic nerve," Buffon said. He couldn't down the chance for a 102nd international cap, which moves him within 10 of the legendary Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff, particularly not on the opening day of Italy's defense of the title Buffon helped win in Berlin four years ago. He appeared his usual indomitable self before 62,869 fans at the Green Point Stadium until Antolin Alcaraz's header in the 39th minute left him motionless as the ball flew past him into the bottom right corner of the net. Considering he had only been beaten on one own goal and one penalty throughout the 2006 World Cup, it was a shock. Buffon was replaced by backup Federico Marchetti, who plays for the small Serie A club Cagliari. Marchetti was never troubled in the second half as Italy rallied via a scrappy goal from Daniele De Rossi. "It was really exciting, although at the same time I'm sorry for Gigi. Before I came on he calmed me down and encouraged me, and that was really nice coming from such a great champion like him," Marchetti said. Even if Buffon does not recover by Sunday, New Zealand is largely considered the easiest opponent in the first-round group. And Slovakia wasn't expected to keep Italy out of the second round, either, with or without Buffon. – AP