Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of Italy's opening World Cup game against Ghana with a thigh injury and may miss the Azzurri's second match on June 17 when they play the United States.

"Gattuso will miss one or two games," the Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci confirmed yesterday, adding that the midfielder would probably need 15 days to recover from the muscle strain.

"I'm disappointed. Missing two games is a lot for me," said Gattuso. "I'm not superstitious but I think someone has put a curse on me. But I'm going to the World Cup even if I have to tie myself with a rope to the team bus."

Italy, who travelled to Germany yesterday, have already ruled out the full-back Gianluca Zambrotta for their opening Group E match on Monday with a thigh strain.

Fitness problems are mounting for the coach Marcello Lippi, who also has concerns over Alessandro Nesta after the defender aggravated an adductor muscle injury. Francesco Totti has recovered from a serious ankle injury but is yet to gain full fitness after three months out.

Lippi said that he had no plans to draft in a replacement for Gattuso, a regular in his side throughout the qualifying campaign. "I will replace him only on the field, not in the squad. Gattuso stays with us and I hope he will recover as soon as possible," said the coach, who against Ghana may replace the Milan player with Daniele De Rossi or Simone Perrotta.