İbrahim Üzülmez on Turkey duty (©Getty Images)Mixed reports for EURO rivals
Monday, 26 March 2007
e-mail
PrintBesiktas JK winger İbrahim Üzülmez has withdrawn from Fatih Terim's Turkey squad for Wednesday's UEFA EURO 2008™ Group C qualifier against Norway in Frankfurt after being ruled out for four weeks with knee ligament damage. The 33-year-old lasted only 19 minutes of Saturday's 4-1 victory over Greece in Athens before being taken off. Galatasaray SK's Ferhat Öztorun and Rizespor's Yasin Çakmak are the reinforcements.
Erik Nevland has been drafted into the Norway squad for the 'away' match against Turkey. The FC Groningen striker, 29, has scored eleven goals this term and will replace Tromsø IL forward Ole Martin Årst, who is struggling with a shoulder injury. Midfielder Tommy Svindal (leg injury) and Morten Gamst Pedersen (suspended) also miss out, though coach Åge Hareide will not call up fresh bodies.
Following the illness to striker Grzegorz Rasiak which makes him doubtful for the midweek Group A game against Armenia in Kielce, Poland coach Leo Beenhakker has decided to add Zaglebie Lubin forward Łukasz Piszczek to his squad. The 21-year-old Piszczek, capped once by his country, has scored five goals in 18 league games this season.
Werder Bremen's defensive midfielder Christian Schulz has dropped out of the Germany squad to face Denmark in a Duisburg friendly on Wednesday. The 23-year-old has been troubled with a thigh complaint and did not feature in Saturday's Group D triumph in the Czech Republic.
Albania coach Otto Barić, 74, has been given permission to travel to Bulgaria for Wednesday's UEFA European Championship qualifier after heart and breathing problems prevented him attending Saturday's 0-0 draw with Slovenia. Albania have two points from four matches in Group G.
Northern Ireland right-back Chris Baird looks unlikely to be available for the visit of Group F leaders Sweden to Belfast. The 25-year-old Southampton FC player sat out Saturday's 4-1 win in Liechtenstein with a groin problem and appears to be losing his fitness battle. Winger Keith Gillespie will be suspended for the same game.
Cyprus coach Angelos Anastasiadis has called up AEK Larnaca FC goalkeeper Sofronis Avgoustis to replace the suspended Michael Morphis for the Group D assignment in the Czech Republic. Injury makes second-choice keeper Antonis Georgallides a doubt while defender Alexandros Garpozis and midfielder Christakis Marangos are ruled out.
Estonia coach Jelle Goes has made two changes to his selection for the Group E qualifier in Israel. Sergei Terehhov picked up an injury in the 2-0 defeat by Russia on Saturday and Andrei Stepanov a booking, which will stop them travelling to Tel-Aviv. FC Flora defender Sander Post and forward Jarmo Ahjupera are the replacements.
Latvia coach Jurijs Andrejevs has cut four players from his original 23-man party for the Group F trip to Liechtenstein. Two players from FK Ventspils - goalkeeper Andris Vanins and midfielder Jevgenijs Kosmacovs - and FHK Liepajas Metalurgs defenders Deniss Ivanovs and Pavels Surnins are the unlucky quartet.
San Marino forward Nicola Ciacci will not be visiting Wales for the Group D encounter because of a thigh injury. Coach Giampaolo Mazza has replaced him with Alan Toccaceli. The Sporting Novafeltria striker, 23, has one cap.
©uefa.com 1998-2007. All rights reserved.
