Coach retains faith in England
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Article summary
Peter Taylor says England have the "confidence and ability" to defeat France despite the loss of four players, while Portugal and Russia have also made changes.
Article body
With the first legs of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying play-offs taking place this weekend, uefa.com rounds up the latest news.
England
Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder Custódio has pulled out of the Portugal squad to face Switzerland on 13 and 16 November because of an injury to his left thigh. Coach Agostinho Oliveira has called up CS MarÃtimo's Nuno Morais as a replacement.
FC Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Oleg Vlasov has been drafted into the Russia squad for their double-header against Denmark after FC Spartak Moskva striker Nikita Bazhenov was forced out with a knee injury. The Russians will make the two-and-a-half hour flight south from Moscow to Krasnodar on Thursday.