Svensson set to join Swedish team-mates

Ankle problem
The Southampton FC midfield player has missed the last two Premiership games with an ankle injury and it was reported on the club's website yesterday that he had not recovered from the injury in time. However it has now been confirmed by the Swedish Football Association that he will link up with the rest of the squad on Wednesday.

Mass withdrawals
Meanwhile, Estonia coach Arno Pijpers faces significant injury worries ahead of his side's friendly international against Canada on 29 March and EURO 2004™ match against Bulgaria on 2 April. Of the original 22 players Pijpers named in his squad, no less than eight have been forced to withdraw, with captain Martin Reim and left-back Erko Saviauk the most prominent absentees.

Defensive disruption
Pijpers's major problems surround his defence, as FC Flora captain Saviauk has failed to recover from injury while Sergei Hohlov-Simson has been forced to undergo knee surgery that is expected to keep him out for up to a month. Fellow central defender Taavi Rähn will miss two months after also having a knee operation, while midfield player Reim, who is ruled out with a calf problem, is joined on the sidelines by Meelis Rooba, Joel Lindpere, Dmitri Ustritski and Aleksandr Saharov.

Inexperienced replacements
Pijpers has been forced to summon a number of replacements, with former national team captain Marek Lemsalu recalled after playing the last of his 76 internationals in November 2001. Lemsalu is joined a number of new faces; uncapped 17-year-old Ragnar Klavan, Antti Arst, Anton Paitsev and Ingemar Teever, and Enar Jääger and Ott Reinumäe, both 18, who made their debuts for Estonia in February.

Weekend injuries
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has also seen his plans disrupted by withdrawals, with midfield player Angelos Basinas and defender Giannis Goumas both picking up injuries in the weekend's Alpha Ethniki games.

'Significant absences'
Rehhagel has chosen to name only one replacement, calling up Spiros Vallas from the Under-23 squad to take Goumas's place. "I consider these two absences very significant," Rehhagel said. "If there are any more injuries, I will not call up any other players." Greece face Austria in Graz on 26 March in a friendly in preparation for their EURO 2004™ game at Northern Ireland seven days later.

Striking change
Slovenia coach Bojan Prašnikar has drafted NK Publikum striker Robert Koren into the squad for the Group 1 qualifying game against Cyprus. The 22-year-old replaces Tottenham Hotspur FC's Milenko Acimovic, who is ruled out through injury, with 1. FC Kaiserslautern's Aleksander Knavs also sidelined while US Lecce forward Sebastjan Cimirotic is considered doubtful for the game.

Captaincy question
Elsewhere in Group 1, France coach Jacques Santini will wait until Thursday to name a replacement captain for the injured Marcel Desailly. Santini will gauge the opinion of his squad before naming Desailly's successor, with Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane likely candidates.

Litmanen doubt
Finland may have to do without captain Jari Litmanen for the Group 9 game in Italy on Saturday. The AFC Ajax playmaker, who has had achilles tendon problems, will not join the rest of the squad in Palermo on Tuesday, and coach Antti Muurinen admitted Litmanen's participation was in doubt, although he remains hopeful that he will be able to play.

'Still hope'
"There is still hope," said Muurinen. "We follow Jari's situation all the time and no decision has been made yet. He isn't flying to Palermo today [Tuesday], but we will have another look tomorrow. We just have to wait and see."

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