Schiemer, Janko, Junuzović out for Austria
Monday, March 28, 2011
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Austria will go into Tuesday's Group A encounter with Turkey in Istanbul without defender Franz Schiemer, striker Marc Janko and midfielder Zlatko Junuzović due to injuries.
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Austria have suffered a triple blow ahead of Tuesday's key UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying trip to Group A rivals Turkey with the loss of Marc Janko, Franz Schiemer and Zlatko Junuzović to injury.
The news that FC Salzburg defender Schiemer, who missed Friday's home defeat by Belgium with a thigh problem, will remain sidelined in Istanbul, has been compounded by the withdrawal of two more important players.
Captain Janko strained his left shoulder during the 2-0 reverse in Vienna and after a scan the FC Twente forward has been ruled out of the Turkey game. He will still travel with the squad, however.
Reigning Austrian player of the year Junuzović, meanwhile, braved an ankle injury to play 69 minutes against Belgium, but this has now swollen up. "I wouldn't have been able to help the team on Tuesday," the FK Austria Wien midfielder said. "I wish them all the best and hope they return from Istanbul unbeaten."
Coach Dietmar Constantini has called up no new players, despite having already been deprived of Sebastian Prödl and Veli Kavlak. Friday's loss left Austria level on seven points with Belgium, eight behind leaders Germany and one above fourth-placed Turkey.