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Rosický rules himself out of EURO

Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner is facing up to a "big loss" after the team's talismanic captain Tomáš Rosický said he would not be fit for UEFA EURO 2008™.

Tomáš Rosický will be a huge loss for the Czech Republic
Tomáš Rosický will be a huge loss for the Czech Republic ©Getty Images

'Lowest point'
The 27-year-old Rosický has been sidelined since January with a hamstring problem that was initially expected to clear up in a matter of "days not weeks". However, the injury has failed to abate and Rosický admits his hopes of appearing in Austria and Switzerland in June are almost nil. "I am in the lowest point of my career," he said. "I missed the big part of season at Arsenal and I reached the European Championship for nothing."

Nědvěd hope
Rosický will undergo surgery on Tuesday and estimates he will be out for "two months at least". His absence will be keenly felt by the Czech Republic, with coach Karel Brückner admitting: "It is big loss for us. He has gone down every avenue for treatment and surgery is his only chance." The news will increase the clamour among fans for Pavel Nědvěd to end his international retirement. The Juventus man quit soon after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

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