Portugués replaces injured Muniain for Spain

Valencia CF striker Cristian Portugués has joined Spain's squad for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Germany after Iker Muniain was ruled out of the tournament through injury.

Groin injury
Athletic Club Bilbao forward Muniain did not emerge after half-time of the defending champions' match against France on Saturday, their second 0-0 draw in Group A, after aggravating a groin strain. Portugués – who will turn 17 on 21 May, three days after the final – has been called up from Spain's original provisional list of 30 players from which the 18-man squad is formed under article 17.18 of the competition regulations, which reads: "Injured or sick goalkeepers or a maximum of two injured or sick players may be replaced upon submission of written medical evidence."

Switzerland encounter
A substitute in two of Spain's three Elite round games in March, Portugués could make his first finals appearance in his country's last group fixture against leaders Switzerland in Sandersdorf on Tuesday, when victory would ensure Ginés Meléndez's team a semi-final place. Spain are aiming for a third successive title and have reached the last four in all of their six previous appearances in the U17 finals since the inaugural 2001/02 edition.