[Torque]

Frings trains despite broken rib

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings took part in his country's final training session before they travel to Basel for their UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-final against Portugal despite a broken rib – but in-form forward Lukas Podolski was not risked.

Double doubt
Frings, 31, suffered the injury during Germany's 1-0 win against Austria on Monday and looked comfortable in training, although he did not get involved in any tackling. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said: "Torsten really wants to play, which is not normal with a broken rib as it is a very painful injury. Our medical department are doing everything in their power to give him the chance to play on Thursday. It is possible he will play under a local anaesthetic." The 23-year-old Podolski, who scored three goals during the group stage, has been troubled by a calf problem and went through a special routine rather than join in the team session. "The situation with him has improved vastly but we still cannot say whether he will play," Bierhoff added.

euro2008.uefa.com - Frings trains despite broken rib

Now, that's dedication man! I hope both Frings and Podolski are fit, as they are essential.

Italy defender Andrea Barzagli will miss the rest of UEFA EURO 2008™ after suffering a knee injury in training.

Meniscus injury
The centre-back, who has agreed to join VfL Wolfsburg from US Città di Palermo this summer, ruptured the meniscus in his left knee in training at the Azzurri's Maria Enzersdorf base. Subsequent scans revealed that Barzagli requires an operation and will play no further part in the competition. Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro had sustained a serious ankle ligament injury on the first day of training at Maria Enzersdorf.

Defensive blow
Although the 27-year-old Barzagli was omitted for the Azzurri's last two Group C matches having started the 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands, his absence will be a blow to Roberto Donadoni nonetheless. The coach is left with Marco Materazzi and Alessandro Gamberini as cover for his first-choice centre-half pairing of Christian Panucci and Giorgio Chiellini. Like Cannavaro before him, Barzagli has decided to stay with the squad as they prepare to face Spain in Sunday's Vienna quarter-final. He will undergo surgery in Austria.

euro2008.uefa.com - Italy reeling from Barzagli blow

[Mark]

Nihat to miss rest of finals

Injured star forced to return home

Originally Posted by SS.com

Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci has been ruled out of the rest of Euro 2008 with a thigh injury he picked up in the quarter-final win over Croatia.


Nihat had already been ruled out of Turkey's semi-final clash with Germany in Basel on Wednesday, and it has now been revealed he will play no further part in the tournament.

The Villarreal forward has returned home to Spain after suffering the injury three minutes from the end of extra-time in Friday's clash, which Fatih Terim's men went on to win on penalties.

A statement on the Turkish Football Association's official website read: "Before going, he sent his best wishes to the squad and wished them victory against Germany."

The 28-year-old is Turkey's joint top scorer in the competition with two goals - he scored the equaliser and the winner in his side's dramatic 3-2 win over the Czech Republic which qualified Turkey for the knock-out stages.


Depleted


Nihat's absence is another blow to Turkey, whose squad is already depleted through suspension and injury.

Servet Cetin, Tumer Metin and Emre Belozoglu are all injured, while Emre Gungor has already been ruled out of the tournament.

Terim had only 15 available outfield players for the Croatia clash, three of whom will be banned for the match against Germany after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament.

Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel will find out on Monday if an appeal against his suspension has been successful.


Replacements


Indeed, such is the extent of Turkey's injury crisis that Uefa officials could be forced into an emergency meeting if Terim asks to call up a replacement player.

The former Milan boss refused to call up anyone when replacements were allowed, but should he need to now then a request would have to be made to Uefa.

"If a team, for instance, only has eight players then there will probably be an emergency meeting but at this stage we have not had any requests," said Uefa director of communications William Gaillard.

The good news for Terim is midfielder Mehmet Aurelio returns from suspension.

Article Here!



big loss for Turkey!

[Torque]

Originally Posted by Mark

big loss for Turkey!

Good news for Germany

[Mark]

Emre out of semi

Turkey captain Emre Belozoglu is still unfit and will not play in the Euro 2008 semi-final against Germany.

Originally Posted by eurosport.yahoo.com

Newcastle midfielder Emre suffered a hamstring tear following the opening group defeat by Portugal and had been rated 50/50 to recover in time for the Basel match.

"With Emre, it's impossible for him to play," coach Fatih Terim said.

He then added that Tumer Metin, who has a groin strain, may be able to play for the last 30 minutes.

Turkey have goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, defender Emre Asik and midfielders Arda Turan and Tuncay Sanli suspended for Wednesday while injured striker Nihat Kahveci is out of the tournament alongside Emre Gungor.

Defender Servet Cetin is almost certain to miss the semi-final with a knee problem.

Fatih joked during the week that third-choice goalkeeper Tolga Zengin might have to play as an outfield player given their woes.

"It was a joke but people took it seriously. It was just a joke to show we had many injured and suspended players," he said.

"Nihat is one of the best strikers in Europe. But I think we just have to look forward and accept the facts as they are.

"The players that replace the injured and suspended ones will do just as well. We are not looking for excuses."

Article Here!



Another hit for turks.

[Mark]

THAT'S A BIG ONE!

Injured Villa set to miss final

Spain forward David Villa will almost certainly miss the Euro 2008 final against Germany because of a thigh injury.

Originally Posted by eurosport.yahoo.com

"Villa won't be playing in the final. He suffered a muscle strain," coach Luis Aragones said after his team beat the Russians 3-0.

The 69-year-old coach said later he would await further assessment on an injury to Villa's right thigh before ruling out the striker altogether.

Villa, top scorer at the tournament with four goals including a hat-trick in the opening group match against Russia, came off in the 35th minute to be replaced by Cesc Fabregas after appearing to get injured taking a free kick.

"I injured myself first of all while sprinting, but the pain got worse and it went when I took the free kick," Villa said.

"At the start I was really upset because I knew it was going to be very difficult to play in the final if we got there. But after the way the team played in the second half I cheered up and now am really happy despite everything."

Spain will return to Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium on Sunday for the final against Germany, who beat Turkey on Wednesday.

"I just want to enjoy Sunday and celebrate winning the European Championship with everyone else," added Villa, who plays for Valencia.

"This is an achievement for the whole squad and we want to take the glory on Sunday."

Aragones hinted that Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas would start on Sunday.

"When both (Fernando) Torres and Villa were on we had a little problem in dominating the midfield," Aragones said. "But when Cesc came on we got control.

"We seem to be playing better with one striker than two, because we have more control and are able to exert more pressure in midfield."

Aragones praised his team's achievement in reaching their first final for 24 years.

"The team has played for some time with this winning mentality," he said.

"They learned a lot from the last World Cup. They know that it isn't just a question of playing well but also of learning how to compete.

"Cesc and others in the team have the experience of 28-year-olds even though they are only 21 or 22. This team could also have a sensational World Cup."

Aragones said that although he was happy to celebrate Thursday's victory, his attentions had already turned to Sunday's final against Germany.

"I'm very happy even though I might not show it. I'm particularly delighted for the group because they have done everything to deserve to be champions, but we've still got one step more left.

"Germany are Germany and they seem to win against whoever they play...Let's see if they let us play, but it is very difficult for any team against us, especially when we add pace to our game.

"Physically Germany are stronger, but we play at such a pace that other sides end up getting more tired than us."

Article Here!