Røll-Larsen to miss finals

By Peter Bruun

Denmark midfield player Thomas Røll-Larsen has been ruled out of the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals this summer, while Thomas Rasmussen is also a doubt.

Operation needed
Røll-Larsen, who played four times in his country's qualifying campaign, will not feature again this season. The FC København player has been struggling with an achilles problem which now requires surgery.

Only solution
The injury has frustrated the 27-year-old on several occasions this season but he has never been able to shake it off completely. "The things we have tried so far have not helped, so now an operation is the only way out," he said.

Title charge
Røll-Larsen will also sit out the remainder of FCK's title pursuit. The capital club are in second position, one point behind leaders Esbjerg fB with five rounds to play. "Of course this is extremely disappointing and it could not have happened at a worse time," he said. "But that is just the way football is - you do not control your own injuries."

Rasmussen blow 
Meanwhile, FC Hansa Rostock midfielder Rasmussen has torn a knee ligament and will be out for up to three weeks. The 27-year-old earned a recall to the Denmark squad for last week's 1-0 friendly victory against Scotland, playing seven minutes as a substitute, but may not get another chance to stake his claim for a place in Morten Olsen's final 23-man squad.

Olsen worries
The Denmark coach has already had to face up to the possibility of being without defender Kasper Bøgelund and winger Peter Løvenkrands in Portugal. However, one piece of positive news is the return of FC Schalke 04 midfielder Christian Poulsen after a six-week injury lay-off.

'Back in shape'
"Christian will have to get back into shape with Schalke before being a candidate for the [UEFA] European Championship," said Olsen.