<p>Italy’s World Cup build-up suffered a major blow when midfielder Riccardo Montolivo broke his leg against Ireland, while in other Brazil 2014 warm-ups Holland beat Ghana and Greece held Portugal.<br /><br /></p>.<p>AC Milan captain Montolivo was injured in the early stages of the friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage following a crunching tackle from Ireland defender Alex Pearce.<br />Skippering Italy on the night he needed several minutes of treatment and was seen mouthing “it’s broken” before eventually being carried off.<br /><br />“Montolivo has what we suspected, a broken tibia,” Italy physician Enrico Castellacci said. “I haven’t seen the X-ray yet to evaluate the extent of it but for a broken bone you can expect surgery.”<br /><br />Montolivo played seven times in Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign and had been expected to be a key member of the team in Brazil.<br /><br />To make matters worse for Italian coach Cesare Prandelli, he also saw Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who had come on for Montolivo, forced off with an injury before half-time. Prandelli, whose side kick off their World Cup campaign against England on June 14, has yet to prune his provisional 30-man squad down to a final group of 23 and he will now have to decide who will replace Montolivo.<br /><br />In Rotterdam, Holland continued their build-up to the finals with a 1-0 win over fellow Brazil-bound Ghana, Manchester United striker Robin van Persie’s fifth minute goal proving decisive.<br /><br />The Dutch, who open their World Cup campaign against titleholders Spain in a rematch of the 2010 final, have only one further prep lined up, against Wales on Wednesday in Amsterdam. <br /><br />Van Persie’s goal came after a neat build-up between Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.<br />The 2010 quarterfinalists Ghana were unable to produce any real chances against a stout Dutch defence but looked in good physical shape ahead of their opening World Cup game against the United States on June 14.<br /><br />Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, who takes over at Manchester United after the World Cup, said: “We created quite a few chances even if the game wasn’t of great quality.<br /><br />“I’m very happy with the way my new (5-3-2) system worked. For sure it’s not attractive as the old system of 4-3-3, you shouldn’t wait for a great show with 5-3-2. But up against Ghana, which is a great side, this system worked really well.<br /><br />“There will be critics but I assume and I truly believe in this system and in my players chosen to carry it out.”<br /><br />In Lisbon, Portugal, without injured star striker Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh), Pepe and Raul Meireles, played out a goalless draw with Greece.<br /><br />The fixture was a rematch of the Euro 2004 final in the Portuguese capital which the hosts under then coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, now boss of Brazil, lost 1-0. <br /><br />Croatia tuned up for their clash with hosts Brazil in the World Cup curtain-raiser with a 2-1 win over Mali, while in Oslo Fabio Capello’s Russia were held 1-1 by Norway.</p>
<p>Italy’s World Cup build-up suffered a major blow when midfielder Riccardo Montolivo broke his leg against Ireland, while in other Brazil 2014 warm-ups Holland beat Ghana and Greece held Portugal.<br /><br /></p>.<p>AC Milan captain Montolivo was injured in the early stages of the friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage following a crunching tackle from Ireland defender Alex Pearce.<br />Skippering Italy on the night he needed several minutes of treatment and was seen mouthing “it’s broken” before eventually being carried off.<br /><br />“Montolivo has what we suspected, a broken tibia,” Italy physician Enrico Castellacci said. “I haven’t seen the X-ray yet to evaluate the extent of it but for a broken bone you can expect surgery.”<br /><br />Montolivo played seven times in Italy’s World Cup qualifying campaign and had been expected to be a key member of the team in Brazil.<br /><br />To make matters worse for Italian coach Cesare Prandelli, he also saw Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who had come on for Montolivo, forced off with an injury before half-time. Prandelli, whose side kick off their World Cup campaign against England on June 14, has yet to prune his provisional 30-man squad down to a final group of 23 and he will now have to decide who will replace Montolivo.<br /><br />In Rotterdam, Holland continued their build-up to the finals with a 1-0 win over fellow Brazil-bound Ghana, Manchester United striker Robin van Persie’s fifth minute goal proving decisive.<br /><br />The Dutch, who open their World Cup campaign against titleholders Spain in a rematch of the 2010 final, have only one further prep lined up, against Wales on Wednesday in Amsterdam. <br /><br />Van Persie’s goal came after a neat build-up between Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben.<br />The 2010 quarterfinalists Ghana were unable to produce any real chances against a stout Dutch defence but looked in good physical shape ahead of their opening World Cup game against the United States on June 14.<br /><br />Dutch coach Louis van Gaal, who takes over at Manchester United after the World Cup, said: “We created quite a few chances even if the game wasn’t of great quality.<br /><br />“I’m very happy with the way my new (5-3-2) system worked. For sure it’s not attractive as the old system of 4-3-3, you shouldn’t wait for a great show with 5-3-2. But up against Ghana, which is a great side, this system worked really well.<br /><br />“There will be critics but I assume and I truly believe in this system and in my players chosen to carry it out.”<br /><br />In Lisbon, Portugal, without injured star striker Cristiano Ronaldo (thigh), Pepe and Raul Meireles, played out a goalless draw with Greece.<br /><br />The fixture was a rematch of the Euro 2004 final in the Portuguese capital which the hosts under then coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, now boss of Brazil, lost 1-0. <br /><br />Croatia tuned up for their clash with hosts Brazil in the World Cup curtain-raiser with a 2-1 win over Mali, while in Oslo Fabio Capello’s Russia were held 1-1 by Norway.</p>