Coach five down for Armenia debut

Ian Porterfield will be without five regular players as he makes his debut as Armenia coach in Wednesday's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Belgium in Yerevan.

Innjured forwards
Goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky, midfielder Artavazd Karamyan and forwards Ara Hakobyan, Edgar Manucharyan and Aram Voskanyan will all miss the match. Berezovsky has decided to end his international career for personal reasons, Karamyan once more refused his call-up by sending a fax to the Football Federation of Armenia while the three strikers are injured.

Replacements excused
FC Kuban Krasnodar striker Robert Zebelyan and defender José Andre Bilibio, who plays in Ecuador for CD Espoli, were both asked to come in as replacements but neither could accept the call. Zebelyan was excused because of club commitments, while Argentinian-born Bilibio said he would not be able to prepare himself properly by Wednesday.

Armenia squad
Goalkeepers: Gevorg Kasparov (FC Pyunik), Felix Hakobyan (FC MIKA)

Defenders: Egishe Melikyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Karen Dokhoyan (FC Krylya Sovetov Samara), Artashes Bagdasaryan (SV Pasching), Alexander Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Robert Arzumanyan (FC Pyunik)

Midfielders: Karen Aleksanyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Romik Khachatryan (Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Agvan Mkrtchyan (FC Pyunik), Levon Pachajyan (FC Pyunik), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants), Hamlet Mkhitaryan (unattached)

Forwards: Armen Shahgeldyan (FC MIKA), Aram Hakobyan (FC Banants), Arman Karamyan (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Galust Petrosyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau)