|
Muller resigned to missing finals
| |
|
|
Patrick Muller has been ruled out for at least
six months (¿Getty Images Sport)
|
Switzerland central defender Patrick Muller looks set to
miss UEFA EURO 2008T and the rest of the season with Olympique Lyonnais'
with a serious knee injury.
Serious injury
The 30-year-old left the pitch 40 minutes into a reserve team game at
the weekend with scans revealing a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate
ligament in his right knee. A statement from the French champions said:
"The player will undergo surgery by the end of the week. His will
not be available again for six months."
'A 0.00001 per cent chance'
The 76-times capped international is resigned to missing UEFA EURO 2008T
in his home country, saying: "I have written off this competition.
I'm out for six months - it starts in early June. I have a 0.00001 per
cent chance of being ready. I'd so much have loved to be able to play
in front of my home crowd." Switzerland will kick off UEFA EURO 2008T
against the Czech Republic in Basel on 7 June 2008. They will then face
Turkey on 11 June and Portugal four days later, also at St. Jakob-Park.
Earlier injury
Muller played in only two competitive games this season before club medical
staff detected a problem with his right knee, but the former FC Basel
1893, RCD Mallorca, Grasshopper-Club and Servette FC defender seemed to
be on the road to recovery prior to the new setback. To add to his anxieties,
his contract with Lyon is set to expire in June. Without him, the French
side need a win against Rangers FC on Matchday 6 to progress to the UEFA
Champions League Round of 16. If the Ligue 1 leaders fail, they will move
on to the UEFA Cup Round of 32 in the new year.
UEFA.com,
4 December 2007
| |
