17-year-old Bojan Krkic Won’t Play at UEFA EURO 2008
The youngster won’t play at UEFA EURO 2008! That’s the pact reached after Bojan Krkic admitted he suffered from fatigue.
The 17-year-old Spanish football player had an exhausting, highly competitive football year, so he had to eventually agree that Luis Aragones was right. He needs a break; after all, he is only 17 years old!
“I know what it is I’m missing out on but I’ve reached a point where I’m very tired,” said Bojan Krkic, who is also FC Barcelona’s player. “At no point did I ever say ‘no’ to the Spanish team. On the other hand, I want to be honest with the manager, the [Spanish Football] Federation and with myself,” added Krkic.
However, although he won’t play at UEFA EURO 2008, Bojan Krkic will remain fully committed to Spain. “My commitment to the Spanish set-up can’t be called into doubt when you consider that I have always played when I have been called upon to do so,” Krkic said, adding also: “I played at a [UEFA] European Championship and a [FIFA] World Cup at Under-17 level and took part in three or four games with the Under-21s. There are no personal problems, I’m just exhausted and I need to disconnect.”
Maniche Will Miss EURO This Time
Although four years ago Maniche shone at UEFA EURO, the FC Internazionale Milano midfielder is not among Portugal’s final 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2008. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari however included Maniche’s brother in his final 23-man squad for UEFA EURO 2008.
So, it seems that it will be Jorge Ribeiro’s turn to shine at UEFA EURO. Maniche’s brother is 26 years old and he plays at Boavista, for which he has scored eight goals in 26 Liga outings.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad is to convene in Viseu for a training camp that will last between 19 and 31 May.
Pavel Nedved Won’t Play at UEFA EURO 2008
The Czech Republic’s football team’s coach, Karel Bruckner, has named recently a provisional 23-man finals squad for UEFA EURO 2008 and Pavel Nedved isn’t among these 23 players.
Although Pavel Nedved announced in the wake of the 2006 FIFA World Cup that he would retire from international football, he was said to return to the Czech squad to replace Tomas Rosicky. The latter had his knee under surgery and was this way ruled out of UEFA EURO 2008.
However, according to Pavel Nedved’s recent statements, he didn’t want to return to international football for UEFA EURO 2008.
Among the Czech squad’s players, Vaclav Sverkos is the only newcomer. He is 24 years old and represents the top scorer in the Czech league, as he has scored 15 goals during this season.
Servet Cetin and Gokhan Gonul Injured! Could Turkey Manage?
Double-bad news for Turkey! The defensive pair Servet Cetin – Gokhan Gonul might put the country’s football team’s appearance at UEFA EURO 2008 in doubt! Unbelievable or what?
Both Servet Cetin and Gokhan Gonul suffer from severe injuries, leaving Turkey coach Fatih Terim to deal with serious concerns regarding his squad for UEFA EURO 2008. Servet Cetin got a groin injury during a final league game against Genclerbirligi Oftaspor and it seems that the injury is worse than previously imagined. However, coach Fatih Terim hasn’t ruled Servet Cetin out of this summer’s tournament and has put Emre Gungor on standby.
On the other hand, Fenerbahce SK’s player Gokhan Gonul has also missed training because of a foot injury and this has made Fatih Terim’s job even more difficult.
Excepting Servet Cetin and Gokhan Gonul, Terim has to deal also with goalkeeper Volkan Demirel’s absence.
“We are in Antalya to relax, not for training,” Fatih Terim said from the Turkish coastal resort. “However, it is sad to see my players getting injured before we even start training. Volkan Demirel and Servet Çetin’s groin injury were bad enough but Gökhan Gönül’s injury was a very unpleasant surprise,” he also added.
Michael Ballack Seems Ready for Glory!
Michael Ballack knows both the bitter taste of frustration and the sweet taste of success. And now he seems he enjoys success so much that he is ready for glory also at UEFA EURO 2008!
After he had failed to set the Premier League alight during his first year at Stamford Bridge, Michael Ballack, 31 years old, seemed unlucky enough to suffer also from a recurring problem at his ankle during the first half of the present campaign. However, Ballack is a fighter and starting December he has eventually returned to top form with Chelsea FC.
So, the recent period has encouraged the player enough to determine him to announce that he believes he can lead Germany’s squad to glory at UEFA EURO 2008.
“The expectations [in England] were huge and I couldn’t show people what I was capable of. I was distraught but I fought back and fortunately things are going well now. I’m back in the final of the Champions League and I’m in good form for EURO 2008,” Michael Ballack said in a statement.
Domenech Puts the Interests of French Football ahead Anything Else
Although he knows how a player could feel to be dropped from the squad for EUFA EURO 2008, coach Raymond Domenech said that French football was more important that feelings in this case. “I know it’s not an easy position for a player, but the interests of French football must come first,” said Domenech, who has the tough duty to decide who will be part of the French squad for UEFA EURO 2008.
The coach is concerned about that fact that as many as 18 players of the squad will still be in action after 18 May, the deadline Domenech had given a few time ago. Thus, there will be a major threat of injuries and Raymond Domenech can’t take any chances.
“After 18 May there are still major games to be played such as the UEFA Champions League, Italian Cup and French Cup finals,” Domenech said in a statement. “There is a big risk that some of the players I call up could get injured, so it will be an extended list given many players are involved in these matches,” he also added.