Coltorti and N'Kufo add to Swiss woes
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Article summary
Third-choice keeper Fabio Coltorti has pulled out of the Switzerland squad with a post-viral illness while Blaise N'Kufo could miss UEFA EURO 2008™ with a groin injury.
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Sent home
The 27-year-old Coltorti reported for a ten-day pre-tournament training camp in Lugano on Monday but was sent home after being diagnosed with post-viral fatigue. The Real Racing Club Santander goalkeeper will be replaced by Grasshopper-Club's uncapped custodian Eldin Jakupovic. Diego Benaglio and Pascal Züberbuhler are Switzerland's other keepers for the finals.
'In all likelihood'
N'Kufo, 32, is also likely to pull out after suffering a groin injury while playing in the end-of-season Eredivisie play-offs with FC Twente. A 0-0 draw on Sunday saw Twente earn a place in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round but participation came at a high price for the Kinshasa-born player, with an official statement saying he will "in all likelihood" miss the finals.
Friendly game
Switzerland play Slovakia in a friendly game on Saturday but are likely to do so without central defender Patrick Müller, who may be drafted back into the Olympique Lyonnais first XI after an injury to team-mate Jean-Alain Boumsong. Lyon play Paris Saint-Germain FC in the French Cup final on Saturday with Müller, back after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, eager to prove his fitness.
Final selection
Jakob Kuhn is due to select his final 23-man squad for the tournament on 28 May. Switzerland are then due to play a final warm-up match against Liechtenstein two days later before heading to their tournament base near Zurich on 2 June. UEFA EURO 2008™, which is being co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria, runs from 7-29 June.
