Postiga out of semi-final showdown
Friday, June 22, 2012
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Hélder Postiga will miss Portugal's UEFA EURO 2012 last-four tie against either France or Spain after sustaining a thigh muscle injury during his country's quarter-final victory.
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Portugal striker Hélder Postiga will miss his country's UEFA EURO 2012 semi-final with either Spain or France in Donetsk next Wednesday.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has confirmed that Postiga sustained a right thigh muscle injury which led to him being stretchered off five minutes before half-time during his country's 1-0 win against the Czech Republic on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Real Zaragoza forward joined an exclusive club of players to have scored in three editions of the UEFA European Championship when he found the net in the 3-2 group stage victory against Denmark. He had started all four matches for Paulo Bento's side, and his enforced absence means the Portugal coach will have to change his lineup for the first time in seven competitive fixtures for next week's semi-final encounter at the Donbass Arena.