Stricken Belarus name squad

Belarus will be lacking strikepower as they face Moldova in a 29 March UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier.

Striking absence
Coach Eduard Malofeev's squad for the game against Moldova and a subsequent friendly fixture with Uzbekistan on 2 April has been severely weakened by the absence of FC Spartak Moskva striker Roman Vasilyuk.

Shtanyuk out
The final squad includes just two recognised forwards in Vitaly Kutuzov and Maxim Tsyhalko, while there could be problems in defence with Stoke City FC central defender Sergey Shtanyuk ruled out. With fellow defenders Alexander Lukhvich and Andrey Milevsky selected despite fears over hip injuries, Malofeev has brought in five uncapped players as cover.

Dinamo players
Sergey Kovalchuk of FC Dinamo Minsk joins his team-mate Maxim Tsyhalko - who could also make his international debut - in the squad as a probable replacement for Shtanyuk. The two  players will join club colleagues Milevsky, Yuri Tsyhalko and Vitali Volodenkov in the squad.

No points
With three defeats in their opening qualifying games, Belarus are yet to earn a point in Group 3. However, the same is true of Moldova, who have failed to gain anything from their opening two qualifiers. 
 
Belarus squad
Tumilovich, Yuri Tsyhalko, Zhevnov, Gurenko, Lavrik, Lukhvich, Khrapkovsky, Ostrovsky, Omelyanchuk, Shtanyuk, Shuneyko, Rovneyko, Khatskevich, Bielkevich, Kovba, Kulchy, Gleb, Romashenko, Tarlovsky, Likhtarovich, Milevsky, Kovalchuk, Volodenkov, Maxim Tsyhalko, Kutuzov.