Worse luck for Swiss with Margairaz KO
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Article summary
Switzerland midfielder Xavier Margairaz will miss UEFA EURO 2008™ after suffering a serious knee injury while playing a friendly with his club side CA Osasuna.
Article top media content
Article body
Switzerland midfielder Xavier Margairaz will miss UEFA EURO 2008™ after suffering a serious knee injury while playing a friendly with his Spanish club CA Osasuna.
Right knee
The 24-year-old tore ligaments and damaged the meniscus in his right knee during Osasuna's practice match against SD Eibar today. He will undergo surgery and faces a long period of rehabilitation. As a result, Margairaz will be unavailable for the co-hosts' EURO finals campaign this summer.
Outrageous fortune
Switzerland coach Jakob Kuhn said of the setback: "Torn cruciate ligaments for Patrick Müller and Blerim Dzemaili, now Margairaz gets a serious injury. You always expect injuries in sport but this number of injuries is ridiculous." Margairaz, who has 16 caps for his country, is in his first season in Spain's Primera División, having joined Osasuna from FC Zürich last summer. He has made 13 league appearances so far.
Contract signed
There was better news for Osasuna, however, after midfielder César Azpilicueta committed his future to the Pamplona club until June 2012. The 18-year-old is in his breakthrough campaign following his league debut last April. He has caught the eye in 17 top-flight matches this season, having helped Spain to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship crown last July.