World Cup 2014: Gianluigi Buffon expected to be fit for Italy's clash with Costa Rica

Veteran keeper missed victory over England

Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon is expected to return against Costa Rica (Getty Images)

Italy are hopeful that their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and the defender Mattia De Sciglio will recover in time for Friday’s Group D match against Costa Rica.

Both players missed the Azzurri's 2-1 triumph over England on Saturday with injuries. Buffon twisted his left ankle last Friday and was replaced by Salvatore Sirigu in goal.

"Gigi [Buffon] has had a specific trauma, which is not your usual sprained ankle," Italy’s team doctor Enrico Castellacci said. "It has affected the knee but fortunately, the knee ligament is fine. His condition will be evaluated. He is having specific therapy and we will decide whether or not to do some x-rays. We will try to have him available as soon as possible.

"We are optimistic that he will have a speedy recovery but his health comes first. I cannot say if he will be able to make it for the game against Costa Rica. After the injury, Buffon told me he was relieved because for a moment he feared he may have to miss the World Cup."

De Sciglio, meanwhile, has a calf strain. "There is no date yet for his return," Castellacci said.

"Right now he is not in a condition to train with the rest of the squad because you cannot take risks when dealing with muscular injuries. Mattia was also concerned he might miss the World Cup but once he was reassured that he could play in Brazil, he smiled again."

Castellacci is hoping Fifa will allow time-outs for the players to drink water or fluids during the Italy’s next two games, against Costa Rica and Uruguay, both of which will kick-off at 1pm local time.

AC Milan right back Mattia De Sciglio should also return for the game (Getty Images)

Italy and England played later and were not allowed any time-outs during Saturday’s match. But both teams admitted after the game that the heat and humidity in Manaus had affected the players.

"It would have been good to have had a three-minute time-out during that game," Castellacci said. "Fortunately, we prepared well and none of our players had cramps.

"I hope that in Recife and Natal, where the conditions will be no better than in Manaus because of the times the games are scheduled, Fifa will reconsider. The criteria is that if the temperature is 32C or above then the time-out is almost automatic. However, what they don’t consider is that with humidity above 70 to 80%, it feels three or four degrees warmer. With those conditions and in these type of games, one can lose two litres of sweat."

PA