[ToRn]

Poland midfielder Jakub Błaszczykowski will miss UEFA EURO 2008™
after aggravating a hamstring injury in training on Thursday.



No chance


"A medical examination and a consequent diagnosis showed it would be impossible for the player to be fit for the group stage,"
said team spokeswoman Marta Alf.

"Therefore a decision was made to request UEFA to approve the replacement of Błaszczykowski with Hertha [BSC] Berlin player Łukasza Piszczek."

The 23-year-old Piszczek made his debut in a friendly against Estonia in February and has three caps.



Makeshift defence


Błaszczykowski, who plays for BV Borussia Dortmund, picked up the injury last month and had been sidelined for two weeks.
Coach Leo Beenhakker also omitted left-back Grzegorz Bronowicki from his provisional squad last month
because of a knee injury and will have to field a makeshift defence in the opening match against Group B rivals Germany in Klagenfurt on Sunday.

Poland also play co-hosts Austria in Vienna on 12 June and Croatia in Klagenfurt four days later.



Rules and regulations


According to Article 16.05 of the Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship:

"In the event of serious injury to a listed player before his team's first match in the final tournament,
the player in question may be substituted only if a doctor from the UEFA Medical Committee and the team doctor concerned
both confirm that the injury is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part."

here

That's a shame really, he's a really good player, in great form...personally my #2 in our current squad (you can't beat Ebi ).

[Torque]

So the defense won't look good. Any chances to field a capable defensive line?

With Austria it won't be so hard. But Croatia are serious opposition.

[Mark]

It's really unbeliveble how the player gat injured this year before Euro, it really is

I don't now much about Poland, but is ashame that he is a key player for you guys if you say Torn.

Anyway you'll have a very tough battle with Croatia imo for 2nd spot.