EURO coaches shuffle squads
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Article summary
Klaus Toppmöller of Georgia and Belgium's René Vandereycken are among the coaches forced into last-minute changes on the eve of Wednesday's UEFA EURO 2008™ ties.
Article body
In Group B, Faroe Islands coach Jøgvan Martin Olsen has been forced into two late changes ahead of the visit of Georgia. Attacking midfielder Bergur Midjord and striker Andrew av Fløtum have dropped out to be replaced by EB/Streymur's Bárdur Olsen and Jónhard Frederiksberg of Skála Ítróttarfelag. Meanwhile, doubts over defender Zurab Khizanishvili, who has a knee injury, have prompted Georgia coach Klaus Toppmöller to draft in centre-back Georgi Shashiashvili from FC Chornomorets Odesa. Khizanishvili faces a late fitness test.
New Belgium coach René Vandereycken has added SC Heerenveen goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche to their squad for the Group A home game against Kazakhstan, deputising for the injured Davy Schollen. Vandenbussche, 24, won his first cap against Slovakia in May.
For Estonia's Group E opener at home to F.Y.R. Macedonia, coach Jelle Goes does without his star striker, Andres Oper of Dutch club Roda JC, as well as midfielder Ott Reinumäe and forward Vladislav Gussev.