Germany without injured Wörns

Christian Wörns and Christian Rahn have been forced to pull out of the Germany squad for Wednesday's friendly against Romania after both players picked up injuries at the weekend.

Wörns and Rahn miss out
BV Borussia Dortmund defender Wörns sustained a muscle injury in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Bayer 04 Leverkusen while Rahn, the Hamburger SV midfield player, tore a hamstring in his right thigh in his side's 4-2 victory over 1. FC Köln and will be out for the next three weeks.

'Frustrated'
"I assume that I will be back in two weeks," Wörns said. "[UEFA] EURO 2004™ is not in doubt." Germany coach Rudi Völler added: "Christian is very frustrated because it is his third muscle injury this year." Völler is also without striker Miroslav Klose who is suffering from a knee injury.

Mutu doubt
Romania, meanwhile, are expected to be without Chelsea FC striker Adrian Mutu for the match in Bucharest, due to a ligament strain. Mutu's absence would mean an opportunity for Adrian Ilie or Daniel Neaga in a Romania side already without midfield player Florin Cernat and forward Daniel Pancu.

Totti out
AS Roma striker Francesco Totti and FC Barcelona forward Luis García are among the absentees for the friendly between Italy and Spain in Genoa. Totti scored twice in Roma's 3-0 victory over Empoli FC on Sunday before announcing he was suffering from a calf injury and would miss Wednesday's match.

Italy depleted
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni is already without Antonio Cassano, Alessandro Nesta and goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, so S.S. Lazio's Angelo Peruzzi has been called up for the first time in five years.

Joaquín Sánchez called up
Spain similarly are suffering from a rash of injuries as the Primera División season reaches its climax. The Real Betis Balompié winger Joaquín Sánchez has been drafted in to replace Luis García who was in line to win his first cap until he suffered a groin injury in training prior to Barcelona's win over Real Madrid CF.

Gutiérrez in for Marchena
Barça defender Carles Puyol has also been ruled out for three weeks after tearing ligaments in his right ankle in last night's match. Valencia CF's Carlos Marchena (knee) is also out, meaning call-ups for RC Deportivo La Coruña's César Martín and Real Betis Balompié's Juanito Gutiérrez.

Gravesen out
Denmark midfield player Thomas Gravesen will miss the friendly against Scotland in Copenhagen after he sprained medial ligaments in his knee in Everton FC's defeat against Blackburn Rovers FC on Saturday. Gravesen is expected to miss Everton's three remaining Premiership matches but he should be fit for EURO 2004™.

Dutch withdrawals
The Danes' coach, Morten Olsen, has called up FC Nordsjælland's Thomas Rasmussen and Martin Retov of Brøndby IF as cover. There are also changes in the Netherlands squad to face Greece after FC Internazionale's Andy van der Meyde and the Barcelona pair of Edgar Davids and Philip Cocu joined Ruud Van Nistelrooij in withdrawing. Coach Dick Advocaat has called up Manchester City FC midfield player Paul Bosvelt.

Beto missing
Finally, EURO 2004™ hosts Portugal will be without Sporting Clube de Portugal centre-back Beto for the match against Sweden in Coimbra because of a thigh injury.