UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Balaban answers Croatia call

Croatia's Boško Balaban is one of several players handed a call-up as coaches revise their UEFA EURO 2004™ plans.

NK Dinamo Zagreb's on-loan forward Boško Balaban has been called up for Croatia's UEFA EURO 2004™ Group 8 qualifiers against Belgium on 29 March and Andorra on 2 April after club colleague Ivica Olic broke his cheekbone in a league game.

Olic injury
Olic was injured during Saturday's 1-0 win at NK Kamen Ingrad Velika and could be out of action for four to six weeks. "I deemed Olic one of the most important players for my game plan against Belgium," said Croatia coach Otto Baric. "This is a very serious blow and I hope he will be back soon." Balaban, whose registration is owned by English side Aston Villa FC, has scored six goals in his previous 14 internationals.

Kovac set to play
Midfield player Niko Kovac picked up a facial injury at the weekend in FC Bayern München's 1-0 victory over FC Hansa Rostock, but he is still expected to play against Belgium. "I was relieved when I got news from Munich that Niko Kovac had not broken his nose, but just badly bruised it," Baric said. "As it stands, he will be able to play." Croatia are currently fourth in the five-team group with just one point from two games, eight points adrift of leaders Bulgaria.

Denmark call on duo
Denmark have called Aalborg BK goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, VfB Wolfsburg defender Thomas Rytter and Bolton Wanderers FC midfielder Per Frandsen into their squad for their Group 2 qualifiers against Romania on Saturday and Bosnia-Herzegovina the following Wednesday.

Bøgelund out
Nielsen replaces FC Midtjylland goalkeeper Peter Skov-Jensen, who has a broken toe, while Rytter comes in for PSV Eindhoven's Kasper Bøgelund who suffered a cruciate ligament injury against AFC Ajax on Sunday. Frandsen replaces Thomas Røll Larsen who was injured playing for FC København on Sunday. The Danes are currently third in their group with four points from two games.

Wales lose quartet
Group 9 leaders Wales have lost four players for the qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Serbia-Montenegro following injuries to Matthew Jones, Adrian Williams, Danny Gabbidon and Andy Johnson.

Failed fitness tests
Leicester City FC midfield player Jones (ankle) and Reading FC defender Williams (knee) both failed fitness tests on Sunday, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said on Monday. Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion FC midfielder Johnson and Cardiff City FC defender Gabbidon were not fit enough to report for duty. Wales, with a maximum nine points from three games, face Azerbaijan on Saturday in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and are away to Serbia-Montenegro the following Wednesday.

Krankl plans disrupted
Austria coach Hans Krankl's plans have been hit by injuries to three players ahead of their friendly against Greece and EURO 2004™ Group 3 qualifier against the Czech Republic. SV Mattersburg midfielder Didi Kuhbauer has been forced to pull out of the squad with a calf injury and has been replaced by SV Pasching's Helmut Riegler. SK Rapid Wien striker Roman Waller has also withdrawn after picking up a knee injury and his place goes to SK Sturm Graz's Mario Haas.

Cerny targets Czech date
However, TSV 1860 München's Harald Cerny may still be fit in time to face the Czechs on 2 April despite suffering a thigh knock against FC Schalke 04. Austria are third in their group with six points from three games.

Irish hit
Republic of Ireland, struggling with no points from two games in Group 10, have called up midfielder Alan Quinn of Sheffield Wednesday FC for their qualifiers against Georgia and Albania. Ireland manager Brian Kerr also has injury worries over Manchester United FC defender John O'Shea and Steve Finnan of Fulham FC.