Injuries impede Italy and Israel in Euro 2008 qualifiers
World champions Italy are among the countries having to think again as injury problems take their toll on preparations for the two rounds of Euro 2008 soccer qualifiers on Saturday and Wednesday.
Massimo Ambrosini and Gianluca Zambrotta will miss Italy's trip to the Faroe Islands on Saturday and are battling to be fit to face Lithuania in Kaunas next week.
The pair will remain in Milan for treatment, with AC Milan midfielder Ambrosini suffering a calf problem and Zambrotta struggling with his right knee.
Italy are fourth in Group B, two points behind the top three.
Israel have major concerns before the away matches in Macedonia and Andorra. Captain and vice-captain Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben Haim are both suspended for the first fixture in Skopje, while defender Ben Haim has had to withdraw from the second game with a knee injury.
West Ham playmaker Benayoun is still in London as his wife is due to give birth yet should travel to Andorra. Amit Ben Shushan (hamstring) is also sidelined while Yuval Shpungin remains a doubt (ankle).
Israel are second in Group E, two points off leaders Croatia having played a match more.
Left-back Antunes has been called up to replace injured defender Marco Caneira (groin) in the Portugal squad for Saturday's visit to Belgium. The 20-year-old Antunes has been drafted from the Under-21 side to take part in the
UEFA European U21 Championship in the Netherlands.
Portugal, who sit second in Group A, five points short of leaders Poland but with a game in hand, will follow the match in Brussels with a friendly in Kuwait on Tuesday.
Group C leaders Turkey must do without two key players for their qualifier at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday.
Fenerbahce's Tumer Metin and Emre Belozoglu of Newcastle United, have both withdrawn through injury after being assessed by Turkey medical staff.
Kayserispor striker Gokhan Unal has also dropped out with a leg knock, making a total of five withdrawals with Ugur Kavuk and Mehmet Topuz also absent.
Belgium will be shorn of Bayern defender Daniel Van Buyten (calf) and AZ Alkmaar attacker Moussa Dembele (hamstring) for the qualifiers against Portugal and Finland.
The Red Devils, who are four points off second spot in Group A after six games, have already had to substitute goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche and defender Peter Van der Heyden with Logan Bailly and Nicolas Lombaerts.
A bout of flu will deprive Belarus of defender Artyom Chelyadinski for the home and away meetings with Bulgaria. Chelyadinski will likely sit out Saturday's encounter in Minsk and the following Wednesday's tie in Sofia.
Belarus are fourth in Group G with seven points from five outings.
Moldova coach Igor Dobrovolsky has made one change to his selection for next Wednesday's Group C qualifier in Greece. Aktobe's Serghei Rogaciov has a thigh problem and makes way for Vladimir Taranu, a 25-year-old forward from Nistru Otaci.
Source: Xinhua