Parma, Italy - Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will look after his troubled knee in the stands on Wednesday when holders Italy wrap up their successful qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup against Cyprus. The Juventus custodian did not cut one of his best figures Saturday in a 2-2 draw in Ireland, but the draw allowed the world champions to secure first place in Group 8 for a ticket to the finals in South Africa.
"I'm playing with a broken meniscus and it hurts," Italian media quoted Buffon as saying, "but I cannot be operated. There's the Champions League. I'll keep going until I can."
The 31-year-old is to be replaced by Cagliari's Federico Marchetti, 26, when the Azzurri welcome Cyprus in Parma, the town where Buffon proved his worth before moved to Juve in 2001.
"In early December there's a game against Inter Milan," he said. "Let's see if I make it until then. I wish I could."
According to his and Juve's plans, Buffon should be operated before or during the winter break and be ready again in late January.
The Azzurri squad, meanwhile, remain a work in progress, according to Marcello Lippi, who resigned after Italy's fourth triumph in 2006 but returned in 2008.
"This was a team to be overhauled and we are still well in the middle of construction," Lippi said. "The last two games were very positive, against Bulgaria (2-0) and Ireland.
"I asked the team to take a step forward and it happened. Now we need more. But let us enjoy this deserved qualification. Seven wins and two draws are a lot. I like the spirit of this team.
"I'm not saying that it's a good omen, but we qualified with one game remaining also for the 1982 and 2006 World Cups (which Italy then won)."
Omens aside, what strikes about the Azzurri is their lack of a truly big striker, as Luca Toni seems to have lost the grit he also failed to fully display in 2006.
Italy's attack, featuring the likes of Vincenzo Iaquinta, Antonio Di Natale and Alberto Gilardino, is the worst among the European teams leading their qualification groups, with just 15 goals from nine games.
The defence appears to be still fairly reliable, but the need of an flamboyant playmaker has been felt. Andrea Pirlo is often under his par while Francesco Totti has retired from the team.
As Lippi often repeats, being a solid, united group is the strength of his men and he is trying to rebuild it despite the absence of top stars that Italy, however, also lacked in 2006.
Cyprus, meanwhile, crushed Bulgaria 4-1 on Saturday and will want to end their campaign with a fight even though they are eliminated from the World Cup race in fourth place.
