Cheyrou given France chance

France and Romania are among the latest countries to be hit by withdrawals before Saturday's opening EURO 2004™ qualifiers, while there is more woe for Sweden.

Toe problem
Arsenal FC striker Thierry Henry has withdrawn from the France squad to face Cyprus in Nicosia after failing to recover from a toe injury that kept him out of the English Premiership match against Chelsea FC on Sunday.

Cissé chance

Petit hope
There was better news for France coach Jacques Santini regarding the fitness of Emmanuel Petit. The Chelsea midfield player is likely to be fit despite missing the 1-1 draw with Arsenal because of a foot injury.

Moldovan woe
Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu has also had to think again about his forward line for the trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina after FC Nantes Atlantique forward Viorel Moldovan suffered a foot injury on Saturday. The Romanians are used to playing without the 30-year-old, as he has missed seven of their last ten internationals.

'Not so young'
However, this latest setback has caused the 30-year-old Moldovan to consider his international future. "I am not so young any more and, at my age, I would like to concentrate on my performances for my club. I think that I have done a lot for the national team and there are young players who can replace me." The striker, who has played in two FIFA World Cups, has played 65 games and scored 24 goals for Romania.

Bagger blow
Brøndby IF striker Ruben Bagger has been forced to withdraw from the Denmark squad for the match against Norway. The 30-year-old frontman was in line to make his debut but is out for three weeks with a calf injury. Denmark's captain Rene Henriksen, who had been doubtful for the match, has also been ruled out along with Peter Lovenkrands and Morten Wieghorst and Martin Jørgensen. Peter Madsen, Per Nielsen and Martin Albrechtsen have all been called into the squad by coach Morten Olsen.

Stalwarts gone
Croatia coach Otto Baric has called up two new defenders for the game against Estonia in Osijek after stalwarts Robert Kovac and Josip Simunic dropped out with injuries. Hertha BSC Berlin's Simunic will undergo ankle surgery in Berlin this week and is likely to be out of action for two months, while Kovac of FC Bayern München withdrew with a persistent injury. Danel Hrman and Mario Tokic have joined the training camp.

Thumb injury
Sweden, who lost key defender Johan Mjällby to a knee injury, have now lost the services of goalkeeper Magnus Kihlstedt, after he suffered a thumb injury playing for FC København and was ruled out for two months. Malmö FF's Mattias Asper has replaced him in the squad, while Tommy Jönsson, the Halmstads BK defender, has been called in for Mjällby.

No Dudek
Poland have added Mariusz Liberda of KS Groclin-Dyskobolia Grodzisk to their squad for the match against San Marino after Liverpool FC goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek pulled out. "Dudek has suffered a groin injury and will not come to Poland," said Miroslaw Ryszka, technical director of the Polish national team. Dudek’s place in the team is expected to go to Wojciech Kowalewski of FC Shakhtar Donetsk.

Dyer out
Another victim of last night's match between Liverpool and Newcastle United FC is the Newcastle and England midfield player Kieron Dyer. England are not in qualifying action for the 2004 UEFA European Championship this weekend but do have a friendly against the hosts Portugal which Dyer will now miss after suffering a recurrence of his shin splints problem. David Dunn of Blackburn Rovers FC has been called in as a replacement. Portugal have also made a change, uncapped SL Benfica defender João Manuel Pinto stepping in for the injured Jorge Andrade.

Federspiel in
Finally, Luxembourg coach Allan Simonsen has drafted 21-year-old Ben Federspiel into his squad for Thursday's international friendly with Israel. Federspiel replaces the injured Sacha Rohmann who suffered ligament damage in a domestic game on Sunday.