Totti facing World Cup fitness agony

Francesco Totti is facing an agonising battle to be fit for this summer’s World Cup after breaking a leg in Roma’s 1-0 victory over Empoli at the weekend.

The 29-year-old Roma captain twisted his left ankle following a crude challenge by Richard Vanigli in the 12th minute of the Serie A game at the Stadio Olimpico. He was reported to have suffered a fractured fibula in his left leg as well as strained ankle ligaments.

The fracture is likely to need two months to heal, but Totti’s damaged ligaments may take longer to recover, placing the Italian internationali’s World Cup in doubt. The World Cup kicks off in less than four months time on June 9.

The Totti injury took the gloss off Roma’s 10th successive League victory, which equalled the the Italian record set by Juventus in 1932. The result also took Roma ahead of Fiorentina and into fourth place in Serie A.