Surgery rules out Filipescu

Root of the problem
The Real Betis Balompié player is to undergo surgery on Monday in a bid to cure him of persistent leg injuries and is a major doubt for the Group 2 tie on 12 October. Doctors hope to deaden a nerve in his back which, they believe, is the cause of his problems.

'A lot of pain' 
"It is causing me a lot of pain and I don't think I will play against Norway," said Filipescu, who has missed all but one of Romania's games this year and is ruled out of Betis's UEFA Cup tie against FC Zimbru Chisinau tonight. "I'm sick of missing so many games," he said.