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Jurkemik shuffles Slovak pack

Slovakia coach Ladislav Jurkemik has been forced to make changes for the friendly against Colombia.

Immediate changes
Jurkemik named an 18-man squad on Wednesday, but has been forced into a reshuffle after Elazigspor goalkeeper Miroslav König and VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach's Igor Demo withdrew through injury, and Miroslav Karhan of VfL Wolfsburg asked to be released for club reasons.

Three replacements
In their places come MŠK Ruzomberok goalkeeper Jan Mucha, along with MŠK Žilina pair Martin Durica and Zdeno Štrba. Miroslav Hlinka is left out having criticised Jurkemik after Slovakia's 2-1 UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying defeat by England in June. Slovakia currently occupy third place in Group 7 with six points from six matches, nine points behind section leaders Turkey and seven adrift of England.

'An honour to play'
"We have no chance now of reaching the [UEFA] European Championship finals but it is still important to prepare for the remaining qualifiers against F.Y.R. Macedonia and Liechtenstein," said Jurkemik. "It is an honour for any player to play for the national team so every game is important."

Slovakia squad
Mucha, Rzeszoto, Petras, Vladimir Labant, Klimpl, Hanek, Branislav Labant, Zabavnik, Leitner, Durica, Kisel, Štrba, Michalik, Janocko, Vittek, Nemeth, Babnic, Oravec.