Vidić leads EURO withdrawals

uefa.com rounds up the latest injury news before the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers on Saturday and next Wednesday.

Serbia coach Javier Clemente has called up RC Lens centre-back Milan Biševac for the Group A matches against Armenia and Azerbaijan after Nemanja Vidić joined Mladen Krstajić (knee) and Ivica Dragutinović (suspended) on the sidelines. Vidić faces ten days out after sustaining a head injury as Manchester United FC defeated Wigan Athletic FC 4-0 on Saturday.

Dean Ashton has been ruled out of England's Group E qualifiers against Estonia and Russia after suffering a knee ligament injury during West Ham United FC's Premier League defeat by Aston Villa FC on Saturday. With the striker having just returned from a 12-month lay-off, confirmation of his withdrawal causes a selection headache for England manager Steve McClaren who is already without Emile Heskey (foot) and Andrew Johnson (ankle).

Raúl Tamudo has been added to the Spain squad to replace the injured David Villa for the Group F games against Denmark and Finland. The 29-year-old RCD Espanyol forward, who has scored four goals in nine international appearances, will substitute the Valencia CF man who has been laid off for three weeks with a sprained left ankle.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen has drafted four home-based players into his squad to play Spain and then Latvia four days later. The Odense BK trio of Ulrik Laursen, Chris Sørensen and Mads Timm, together with FC København midfielder Rasmus Würtz, will join the original party for the two home fixtures.

Finland coach Roy Hodgson has a midfield puzzle to solve after Tottenham Hotspur FC's Teemu Tainio and Jarkko Wiss of Tampere United were ruled out of Saturday's Group A test in Belgium. Tainio has a thigh injury, Wiss an ankle problem, and the pair join fellow midfielder Markus Heikkinen on the absentee list. FC Zürich defender Veli Lampi has been called up.

Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn will be deprived of the services of Alexander Frei and Philipp Degen for the UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts' friendlies against Austria and the United States. The BV Borussia Dortmund-based duo will miss the home games – to be played on Saturday and next Wednesday – after failing to overcome injuries. Striker Frei has a calf problem while defender Degen is struggling with a groin complaint.

Goalkeeper Pavel Londak has withdrawn from Estonia's squad to face England at Wembley after suffering a head injury in a Norwegian league game with FK Bodø/Glimt on Sunday. Coach Viggo Jensen has called up FC Tom Tomsk's Sergei Pareiko as cover, with usual No2 Artur Kotenko out with a broken finger and first-choice Mart Poom rated doubtful with a back problem.

Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is unavailable for the Group D double-header away to both Cyprus and San Marino as he nurses a hip injury sustained at the weekend. There is some cheer for the Welsh, though, as Craig Bellamy could overcome a groin injury in time to play.

Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Fuad Muzurović has had Adnan Ćustović, Senidad Ibričić and Ante Aračić – from R. Excelsior Mouscron, NK Zagreb and FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek respectively – withdraw from his squad to take on Greece and Norway in Group C. Replacing the foreign legionnaires are the home-based talents of Sulejman Smajić and Nedžad Serdarević. Further reinforcements from the country's Premijer Liga have arrived in Denis Mujkić, Bojan Tripić, Veldin Muharemović and Bojan Marković.

Luxembourg will be shorn of captain Jeff Strasser for the Group G assignments in Belarus and at home against Romania. Coach Guy Hellers will have to replace the defender after he damaged ligaments in his right knee in FC Metz's Ligue 1 match against Olympique Lyonnais in mid-September.