SEOUL, May 27: World champions France suffered a major setback on Monday when they learned that their star playmaker Zinedine Zidane was almost certain to miss their first two games through injury.

The world’s most expensive player, who strained a muscle in his left thigh in a friendly on Sunday, is likely to miss the opener against Senegal in Seoul on Friday and the second game against Uruguay in Busan on June 6.

Claude Simonet, the chairman of the French soccer federation, was quoted by French radio as saying on Monday: “I have some slightly worrying news. I’ve just been told the results of the x-ray and Zinedine Zidane will possibly be absent for two matches.

“For the moment, that’s the result of the X-ray. If you want to be world champions, you have to be prepared to play from time to time without one of your stars.

“But it’s now up to (coach) Roger Lemerre and Zidane himself to take the decision.

“Caution would suggest, though, that Zidane misses the World Cup’s first two games to fully recover.”

France coach Lemerre and French team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret were not available for comment in Seoul on Monday. The France press officer said they will make a formal statement on Tuesday.

However, Zidane dismissed an injury as a “very minor thing”, and said he hoped to play in second match against Uruguay.

When asked in an interview published on Le Parisien newspaper’s website if he was worried about whether he would participate in the tournament in South Korea and Japan, he said: “No. Not really.

“All I know is that there is something there. But it’s only a very minor thing. The X-rays showed a small lesion.

“I will be out for at least one match... I hope to play the second match of the World Cup — France-Uruguay — in Pusan on June 6.”

“I am confident. I must now rest for three or four days. I need to let nature do its work,” he added.

Zidane was taken off before halftime after suffering the thigh injury during a warm-up friendly against South Korea in Suwon on Sunday.

The player applied an ice pack to his left thigh as he sat on the bench after indicating to Lemerre that he wanted to leave the field in the 38th minute.

On Monday, Zidane had a scan on his left thigh in Seoul and was absent from the training ground.

This injury comes as a major setback for the world champions who are still struggling for their best form with one win, a draw and a loss in their last three outings.

“He is an outstanding player and his influence in the squad is huge,” Lemerre said. “When he plays he lifts the level of the whole team.”

The twice world player of the year, who will turn 30 on June 23, attended the birth of his third child in Marseille last week, three days after leading his club Real Madrid to the Champions League title.

Meanwhile, Italy striker Filippo Inzaghi is set to miss his side’s opening group match against Ecuador on June 3 with a knee injury, a team official said on Monday.

“Our objective is for him to be ready for the second game. It will be difficult for him to be ready for the first game,” Italian team doctor Andrea Ferretti told reporters.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni also said he was only expecting the AC Milan forward to be in contention for their second group G match against Croatia on June 8.

“Even though it is probable that he won’t be ready for the first game, it is very likely that he will be ready five days later for the second match,” said Trapattoni.

Inzaghi had tests on his injured left knee at the local hospital after the team returned to base in Sendai on Sunday and the scan showed no torn ligaments.

But while the tests ruled out serious damage and there is no swelling around the knee, the player remains in pain and needs seven to 10 days to recover full fitness.

“This morning we had another examination of the knee and it is much, much better,” said Ferretti.

“However, he still feels some pain. He needs two days of physiotherapy and a gradual return to training.”

Inzaghi picked up the injury in scoring during a 2-1 warm-up win over Japanese champions Kashima Antlers on Sunday.

Filippo Inzaghi’s almost certain absence from Italy’s frontline for their opening group game against Ecuador could hand Alessandro Del Piero a chance to reclaim his place in the ‘azzurri’ attack.

Del Piero, whose chances of being in the starting line-up for that game had looked slim, gave a bright performance after coming on as a substitute in Tokyo.

Roma’s Vincenzo Montella was widely viewed as the first-choice back-up striker but his lacklustre display against the J-League side will not have helped his case.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni said on Monday he was still weighing up several tactical and personnel options ahead of their opening group G clash, but said Del Piero and Montella were now on “equal terms” in the battle to partner Christian Vieri.

Del Piero said he was not surprised by his coach’s comments and insisted that despite being left out of the starting team for the last two friendly games he has remained in the frame.

“He was just confirming (the situation). That has always been the case. He has known me well for ten years now and doesn’t need to experiment with me.

“But let’s see, there is nothing decided yet and the coming days will be important,” the Juventus forward told reporters. “I am an optimist, both for myself and for Italy”.

Sunday’s warm-up results:

Cameroon 2 England 2

South Korea 2 France 3

Italy 2 Kashima Antlers 1

—Reuters