Lorenzo De Silvestri undergoes knee surgery

Sampdoria defender Lorenzo De Silvestri has undergone surgery to repair a serious knee injury.

The 27-year-old was stretchered off the pitch in the first half of Italy's 1-1 draw with Croatia on Friday evening.

He then underwent tests which revealed that he had suffered an injury to both his anterior cruciate ligament and the external meniscus.

The full-back has now had surgery on the injury in Rome and is expected to be sidelined for the next eight months.

De Silvestri was making his fourth appearance for Italy against Croatia, after a successful season at Sampdoria.