Germany lose Lauth option
Monday, April 19, 2004
Article summary
TSV 1860 München and Germany striker Benjamin Lauth will miss UEFA EURO 2004™ after suffering a foot fracture.
Article body
No chance
Lauth sustained the injury in the 2-1 home defeat by Hamburger SV on Saturday and will be sidelined for at least six weeks. This means the 22-year-old will not be back before the end of the Bundesliga season and so has no chance of making the final squad.
Losing battle
Lauth, who was an unused substitute twice in Germany's qualifying matches, is the second young prospect set to miss the finals in Portugal with FC Bayern München's Tobias Rau also fighting a losing battle due to injury and illness.
Striking options
The 1860 striker's injury adds to the problems of coach Rudi Völler, who is struggling to find forwards who are both fit and in form. VfB Stuttgart's Kevin Kuranyi is the only Germany striker scoring regularly in the Bundesliga and for the last friendly against Belgium, Völler included Oliver Neuville and Fredi Bobic in his squad, both of whom are currently out of favour with their clubs.
Podolski possibility
For next Wednesday's friendly against Romania, Völler may now consider calling up the 1. FC Köln teenager Lukas Podolski. Only 18, Podolski has won Under-21 caps and has been a regular starter in a struggling Köln side this season, scoring five goals.
