Marchena a worry for Spain

With FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs and friendly internationals on the agenda this weekend, uefa.com rounds up the latest squad news.

Defender Carlos Marchena has provided Spain coach Luis Aragonés with a scare ahead of Saturday's FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Slovakia. The Valencia CF centre-back missed the squad's first training session of the week after going down with a stomach bug. However, the 26-year-old is expected to recover in time for the first-leg tie at the Vicente Calderón stadium in Madrid. Captain Raúl González has a minor muscular problem but should also be fit to play.

France coach Raymond Domenech has postponed a decision on his first-choice goalkeeper for the 2006 FIFA World Cup "in order to avoid unnecessary pressure" on either Fabien Barthez or his rival Grégory Coupet. Instead he will reveal his No1 for the Germany finals in March. Olympique de Marseille's Barthez will keep goal against Costa Rica on Wednesday, before giving way to Coupet of Olympique Lyonnais for Saturday's friendly against Germany.

Meanwhile, Juventus striker David Trezeguet has pulled out of the Costa Rica game in Martinique so as to avoid the nine-hour flight to the West Indies and the risk of aggravating a thigh injury en route. However, Trezeguet will be available for Germany's visit to Paris.

Croatia must do without Ivan Klasnić for Saturday's friendly against Portugal after the Werder Bremen striker underwent surgery for an inflamed appendix. Klasnić faces a two-week lay-off, while international team-mates Igor Tudor (abdomen) and Anthony Šerić (thigh) have also succumbed to injury ahead of the match in Coimbra. SC Heerenveen midfielder Danijel Pranjić, 23, has been drafted into the squad.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerbäck has added Halmstads BK midfielder Dusan Djuric to his squad to face South Korea in a friendly in Seoul on Saturday. The 21-year-old has one cap already. Djurgårdens IF's Johan Arneng has withdrawn for family reasons.

The Netherlands have called up Ellery Cairo and Kew Jaliens for Saturday's meeting with Italy in Amsterdam. Hertha BSC Berlin forward Cairo, 27, comes into coach Marco van Basten's plans as Ruud van Nistelrooij is struggling with a rib injury. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old AZ Alkmaar defender Jaliens covers for Khalid Boulahrouz and Nigel de Jong who are receiving treatment for muscle complaints.