Injury blues for Ireland’s opponents

Two of Ireland’s Euro 2012 group rivals have been hit by late injuries, with Croatian striker Ivica Olic out of the tournament with a ruptured thigh muscle.

He’s been replaced by former Blackburn attacker Nikola Kalinic.

Defender Andrea Barzagli has added to Italy’s mounting worries by being ruled out of the group phase and possibly the whole tournament with a calf strain.

Croatia’s Olic picked up the injury in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Norway in Croatia’s final warm-up game.

“Unfortunately, the injury turned out to be far more serious than the initial examination had suggested and a thorough scan showed a rupture in the right thigh,” team doctor Zoran Bajtijarevic said.

Added Olic: “Scans showed a muscle rupture and there just isn’t enough time for me to recover and help the team. I had 15 injections in my back, everything hurts. I’m going back to Munich and will watch the Euros on TV. I wanted to have a good Euros and retire from the team after that. But now, who knows? I haven’t made my final decision. If my next season goes well, if I’m needed in the team, I could stay.”

The Croatians open their campaign against the Republic of Ireland in Poznan on Sunday.

Italy’s Barzagli suffered the injury in Friday’s woeful 3-0 friendly defeat by Russia.

“We could change a player 24 hours before the Euros. But we will try to get him fit,” Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci confirmed. “We are confident he can recover but in any case he would not be available in the first phase.”

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia, who was in the provisional squad, could be called up if Italy decide not to risk Juventus’s Barzagli.