Euro qualifiers dogged by injuries to the star players

Some of European football’s best players will all miss playing in Saturday’s important European Championship qualifiers either thr...

Some of European football’s best players will all miss playing in Saturday’s important European Championship qualifiers either through injury or suspension.

While David Beckham, arguably the biggest star on the European stage, said on Friday he expects to play for England against Macedonia in their Group VII match after shaking off a groin strain, others were not so lucky.

Beckham’s Real Madrid team mate, France playmaker Zinedine Zidane, has a thigh strain and misses the Group I match against Cyprus in Paris which could see France clinch the first qualifying place in next year’s finals in Portugal.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy of the Netherlands, a former teammate of Beckham at Manchester United, will also be sidelined through suspension for the home match against Austria.

The good news for Dutch coach Dick Advocaat is that he will be eligible for what is likely to be the Group III decider against the Czech Republic in Prague next Wednesday.

The Dutch also have a doubt about Roy Makaay, who is something of a lucky omen for the national team as he has never been on the losing side in 24 appearances for the Netherlands. If he shakes off a knee injury he should replace Van Nistelrooy, otherwise Patrick Kluivert will lead the attack against the Austrians in Rotterdam.

Italy, meanwhile are fretting over the fitness of striker Christian Vieri for their top-of-the-table Group IX match against Wales in Milan. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni, already without the injured Francesco Totti, looked nervous as Vieri limped off during training on Thursday after aggravating a knee injury.

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England are without Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Trevor Sinclair for the trip to Macedonia, while Wales have their own problems, most of which have revolved around the right knee of pacy striker Craig Bellamy. Bellamy, who poses a considerable striking threat, has missed Newcastle United’s most recent matches but after days of uncertainty has declared himself fit to play against the Italians.

Ukraine, facing a tough, but not impossible task of qualifying for their first finals ahead of Greece or Spain, are also likely to be without their top striker, Andriy Shevchenko.

Shevchenko is doubtful for Saturday’s Group VI match in Donetsk against the goal-shy Northern Ireland side after injuring his leg in AC Milan’s 2-0 win over Ancona on Monday where he scored both goals. (Reuters)

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