Italy's injury woes continue to mount: influential midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will miss his country's opening game at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Gattuso, 28, suffered a tear in his right thigh in an exhibition match last week against Switzerland.  The injury was discovered during a medical exam Wednesday and now the AC Milan star will sit out Italy's game against Ghana next Monday in Hanover.

Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso joins the growing list of injured on Italy's World Cup team.
(ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Italy plays five days later against the United States in Kaiserslautern.

"Gattuso will have to miss a game or two," Italian team doctor Enrico Castellacci told reporters on Wednesday.

Gattuso's absence will probably open the door for youngster Daniele De Rossi to be drafted into Italy's starting lineup.

This latest injury is yet another added to a growing list for manager Marcello Lippi

Right fullback Gianluca Zambrotta will miss the game against Ghana with a left thigh injury and central defender Alessandro Nesta is questionable with a right thigh problem. Playmaker Francesco Totti is still trying to regain his fitness after being sidelined several months with a left leg injury.

"You pay a toll with injuries sooner or later at the World Cup. Sometimes it's better to pay it earlier," Lippi told the ANSA news agency.

The 32-team World Cup kicks off on June 9 with the hosts Germans taking on Costa Rica.