Estonia wait on defenders

Estonia coach Jelle Goes has called up 25 players for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Israel in Tallinn on 2 September with a view to reducing the numbers according to injuries.

Defensive headache
Goes has defensive worries, with right-back Teet Allas, left-back Urmas Rooba and anchormen Liivo Leetma and Taavi Rähn all doubts. Centre-back Sander Post is ruled out, along with midfielder Maksim Smirnov. Better news is the return of striker Andres Oper who missed the 1-0 home defeat by F.Y.R. Macedonia in Estonia's opening Group E qualifier last week.

Estonia squad
Goalkeepers: Mart Poom (Arsenal FC), Artur Kotenko (FC Levadia Tallinn).

Defenders: Raio Piiroja (Fredrikstad FK), Andrei Stepanov (FC Torpedo Moskva), Ragnar Klavan (Heracles Almelo), Enar Jääger (FC Torpedo Moskva), Dmitri Kruglov (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Alo Bärengrub (FC Flora), Tihhon Šišov (FC Levadia Tallinn), Teet Allas (FC Flora), Urmas Rooba (Vejle BK).

Midfielders: Martin Reim (FC Flora), Joel Lindpere (FC Flora), Aleksandr Dmitrijev (FC Levadia Tallinn), Kert Haavistu (FC TVMK Tallinn), Andrei Sidorenkov (FC Flora), Konstantin Vassiljev (FC Levadia Tallinn), Liivo Leetma (FC KooTeePee), Taavi Rähn (FC Volyn Lutsk).

Forwards: Kristen Viikmäe (Gefle IF), Andres Oper (Roda JC), Ingemar Teever (Östers IF), Sergei Terehhov (FC Honka Espoo), Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko (FC Flora), Tarmo Neemelo (FC TVMK Tallinn).