Massimo Ambrosini will miss out
for Italy (¿Getty Images)
World champions Italy are among the countries having to
think again as injury problems take their toll on preparations for the
two rounds of UEFA EURO 2008T qualifiers on Saturday and Wednesday.
Massimo Ambrosini and Gianluca Zambrotta will miss Italy's trip to the
Faroe Islands on Saturday and are battling to be fit to face Lithuania
in Kaunas next week. The pair will remain in Milan for treatment, with
AC Milan midfielder Ambrosini suffering with a calf problem and Zambrotta
struggling with his right knee. Italy are fourth in Group B, two points
behind the top three.
Israel have major concerns before the away matches in F.Y.R. Macedonia
and Andorra. Captain and vice-captain Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben Haim
are both suspended for the first fixture in Skopje, while defender Ben
Haim has had to withdraw from the second game with a knee injury. West
Ham United FC playmaker Benayoun is still in London as his wife is due
to give birth yet should travel to Andorra. Goalkeeper Dudu Awat deputises
as captain, with Maccabi Netanya FC's Liran Strauber the goalkeeping understudy
as Nir Davidovich is out with a knee complaint. Amit Ben Shushan (hamstring)
is also sidelined while Yuval Shpungin remains a doubt (ankle). Israel
are second in Group E, two points off leaders Croatia having played a
match more.
FC Pacos de Ferreira left-back Antunes has been called up to replace injured
defender Marco Caneira (groin) in the Portugal squad for Saturday's visit
to Belgium. The 20-year-old Antunes has been drafted from the Under-21
side to take part in the UEFA European U21 Championship in the Netherlands.
Portugal, who sit second in Group A, five points short of leaders Poland
but with a game in hand, will follow the match in Brussels with a friendly
in Kuwait on Tuesday.
Group C leaders Turkey must do without two key players for their qualifier
at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday. Fenerbahce SK's Tumer Metin and Emre
Belozoglu of Newcastle United FC, have both withdrawn through injury after
being assessed by Turkey medical staff. Kayserispor striker Gokhan Unal
has also dropped out with a leg knock, making a total of five withdrawals
with Ugur Kavuk and Mehmet Topuz also absent.
Belgium will be shorn of FC Bayern Munchen defender Daniel Van Buyten
(calf) and AZ Alkmaar attacker Moussa Dembele (hamstring) for the qualifiers
against Portugal and Finland. The Red Devils, who are four points off
second spot in Group A after six games, have already had to substitute
goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche and defender Peter Van der Heyden with
Logan Bailly and Nicolas Lombaerts.
A bout of flu will deprive Belarus of FC Metalurh Zaporizhya defender
Artyom Chelyadinski for the home and away meetings with Bulgaria. Chelyadinski
will likely sit out Saturday's encounter in Minsk and the following Wednesday's
tie in Sofia. Belarus are fourth in Group G with seven points from five
outings.
Moldova coach Igor Dobrovolsky has made one change to his selection for
next Wednesday's Group C qualifier in Greece. FK Aktobe's Serghei Rogaciov
has a thigh problem and makes way for Vladimir Taranu, a 25-year-old forward
from FC Nistru Otaci.
,
31 May 2007.
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
¿ Russian National Football Team - RussiaTeam.com
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