Prinz and Mäkinen miss Algarve Cup

Germany and Finland will be without respective captains Birgit Prinz and Anne Mäkinen for next month's Algarve Cup, which will involve six of the 12 UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ finalists.

Prinz absence
Striker Prinz, 31, who has scored 122 goals in 188 internationals and won the last four UEFA European Women's Championships and two FIFA Women's World Cups, has torn knee muscles and will miss Germany's friendly against China on 25 February and the Algarve Cup from 4 to 11 March. She will also sit out the resumption of 1. FFC Frankfurt's Frauen-Bundesliga campaign at FF USV Jena on Saturday. VfL Wolfsburg forward Martina Müller has replaced Prinz, with Germany also deprived of defenders Annike Krahn, Ariane Hingst and Kerstin Stegemann through injury though Linda Bresonik is expected to be fit despite a bruised ankle.

Finland challenge
Meanwhile, Finland midfielder Mäkinen is the most notable absentee from the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts' squad for the Algarve Cup in Portugal due to her medical studies in Stockholm. They begin their campaign against Germany before facing further group games against Sweden and China. Coach Michael Käld said: "It will be a big challenge for us to play the reigning European champions in the opening game. Everybody knows what the Algarve Cup is about. It is a tough tournament with all the top countries in the world participating." Finland will stage UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ between 23 August and 10 September.

To read an interview with Prinz looking back at her first European triumph, click here.

To read an interview with Mäkinen looking back at her international career, click here.