Spearhead Vieri absent for Azzurri

Yugoslavia face Azerbaijan in Wednesday's only UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier, while a further 38 European sides are in friendly international action.

Missing trio
A coach desperate for a morale-boosting victory is Italy's Giovanni Trapattoni following a run of indifferent results. As if facing Portugal, the hosts of EURO 2004™, was not difficult enough, Trapattoni will be forced to do without his three first-choice attackers after Christian Vieri yesterday joined AS Roma's Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero of Juventus FC on the sidelines.

Corradi call-up
The 30-year-old Vieri suffered a knee injury during Internazionale FC's 3-0 win against Reggina Calcio, having earlier scored the opening goal. He will be replaced by S.S. Lazio striker Bernardo Corradi, 27, who has scored seven times this season. Filippo Inzaghi, Fabrizio Miccoli and Marco Delvecchio are also vying to lead the line. Portugal also have injury problems, with FC Porto midfield player Costinha withdrawing because of a thigh injury. He will be replaced by Gil Vicente FC's Luis Loureiro.

Landreau gets nod
France, the reigning European champions, have problems of a different nature for their friendly against the Czech Republic in Paris. Missing injured goalkeepers Fabien Barthez and Grégory Coupet, Jacques Santini has called up Mickaël Landreau of FC Nantes Atlantique to act as understudy to Ulrich Ramé, who will be handed the No1 jersey. Defender Philippe Mexès withdrew today, the void being filled by AJ Auxerre team-mate Jean-Alain Boumsong.

Ballack suffers
Midfield player Michael Ballack and Marko Rehmer have pulled out of Germany's squad for the friendly against Spain in Mallorca. FC Bayern München talisman Ballack is suffering from flu, while Hertha BSC Berlin defender Rehmer has a muscle injury. BV Borussia Dortmund midfield player Sebastien Kehl is also unlikely to make the trip.

Olsen loses quintet
Denmark coach Morten Olsen has seen five players withdraw from his squad to face Egypt in Cairo. Forward Ebbe Sand suffered a thigh injury in FC Schalke 04's 4-2 weekend defeat against Hertha, and will not travel along with fellow injury victims Martin Jørgensen, Peter Løvenkrands, Kasper Bøgelund and Thomas Helveg. Odense BK's 26-year-old forward Soren Berg will stand in for Sand.

Maybury recalled
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has handed Heart of Midlothian FC defender Alan Maybury a recall to the national team to play Scotland in Glasgow after a three-year absence. "Alan was on standby and it's natural to call him up because he is local," Kerr said. Kerr's maiden squad has been decimated by injuries - Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Gary Kelly, Mark Kennedy and Rory Delap all pulling out. Scotland's Maurice Ross is also out after injuring himself in Rangers FC's win on Saturday.

Frustration for Slovakia
Vladimir Janocko and Szilárd Neméth have both pulled out of Slovakia's squad for their international tournament in Cyprus, which starts on Wednesday when they tackle Romania. The injured duo have been replaced by Miroslav Drobnák and Lubomir Reiter. Adrian Ilie could be a late withdrawal for Romania, following Mihai Tararache's lead.

Five out
Andreas Jakobsson is the latest player to pull out of Sweden's squad to face Tunisia on Wednesday. The FC Hansa Rostock player has a damaged hip and is replaced by Christoffer Andersson of Helsingborgs IF. Mattias Jonsson has already pulled out, along with British-based trio Johan Mjällby, Fredrik Ljungberg and Teddy Lucic.

Berg back
Veteran defender Henning Berg, 33, has been drafted into Norway's squad for their friendly game against Greece after Claus Lundekvam and André Bergdølmo pulled out. In midfield, Fredrik Winsnes comes in at the expense of Eirik Bakke.

Swiss lack Stiel
Switzerland will travel to face Slovenia without goalkeeper Jörg Stiel and defender Murat Yakin, while Bulgaria captain Krassimir Balakov and midfield player Stilian Petrov are both unavailable for the friendly against Hungary. Northern Ireland have fared worse, with four players - Kevin Horlock, Phil Mulryne, Gerry Taggart and Colin Murdock - pulling out.

Van Damme disappointment
Finally, AFC Ajax defender Jelle van Damme has been ruled out of what would have been his Belgian international debut against Algeria after picking up an injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Feyenoord. A subsequent examination showed that he had a bruised lung. Walter Baseggio has also withdrawn.