Netherlands out to resist Hungary advances
domenica 27 marzo 2011
Intro articolo
The Netherlands, group leaders, are without Arjen Robben, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Mark van Bommel for their return game against second-placed Hungary while Sweden host Moldova.
Contenuti top media
Corpo articolo
The Netherlands have won all five of their UEFA EURO 2012 Group E fixtures and could go nine points clear atop their section if they repeat Friday's victory against Hungary in Amsterdam on Tuesday. They will have to manage without Arjen Robben, qualifying leading scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and captain Mark van Bommel, however. Sweden will aim to bounce back from their 4-1 October loss in Amsterdam at home to Moldova while bottom pair San Marino and Finland return to action when they meet on 3 June. UEFA.com rounds up the team news.
25 March: Hungary v Netherlands
29 March: Sweden v Moldova, Netherlands v Hungary
Latest standings
Netherlands
Robben pulled out after picking up a groin strain for FC Bayern München last Saturday – he has not played for his country since the FIFA World Cup final. Huntelaar, who has eight goals in qualifying, and FC Twente midfielder Theo Janssen are out with knee problems. Bert van Marwijk has named Luuk de Jong, Jeremain Lens and Ruud van Nistelrooy as replacements. NAC Breda goalkeeper Jelle ten Rouwelaar received his first call-up as cover for Maarten Stekelenburg, who broke his thumb while training for AFC Ajax. Van Bommel is out with a swollen leg.
Goalkeepers: Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Jelle ten Rouwelaar (NAC Breda), Sander Boschker (FC Twente).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart), John Heitinga (Everton FC), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (AFC Ajax).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (FC Barcelona), Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan), Theo Janssen (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City FC), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia CF), Arjen Robben (FC Bayern München), Wesley Sneijder (FC Internazionale Milano), Kevin Strootman (FC Utrecht), Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar)*.
Forwards: Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (FC Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool FC), Robin van Persie (Arsenal FC), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Hamburger SV)*, Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven)*, Luuk de Jong (FC Twente)*.
Hungary
The 34-year-old Kecskeméti TE striker Attila Tököli, who last scored for his country in a friendly win against Latvia in February 2004, was recalled for last month's 2-0 success in Azerbaijan and now has a chance to play his first competitive international in eight years because of 1. FSV Mainz 05 forward Ádám Szalai's knee injury. "He has such an instinct for timing his runs that I know I can rely on him against the Netherlands," said Hungary coach Sándor Egervári.
Goalkeepers: Gábor Király (TSV 1860 München), Márton Fülöp (Ipswich Town FC), Ádám Bogdán (Bolton Wanderers FC).
Defenders: Pál Lázár (Videoton FC), Zoltán Lipták (Videoton FC), Vilmos Vanczák (FC Sion), Roland Juhász (RSC Anderlecht), Zsolt Laczkó (UC Sampdoria), Ádám Pintér (Real Zaragoza), András Debreceni (Budapest Honvéd FC)*, Ádám Komlósi (Debreceni VSC)*.
Midfielders: Vladimir Koman (UC Sampdoria), József Varga (Debreceni VSC), Zoltán Gera (Fulham FC), Tamás Hajnal (VfB Stuttgart), Péter Czvitkovics (Debreceni VSC), Ákos Elek (Videoton FC), Krisztián Vadócz (CA Osasuna), Balázs Dzsudzsák (PSV Eindhoven), Tamás Koltai (Győri ETO FC).
Forwards: Attila Tököli (Kecskeméti TE), Gergely Rudolf (AS Bari), Tamás Priskin (Ipswich Town FC).
Sweden
Without five regulars, including three of the usual back four, coach Erik Hamrén hinted he may use wide midfielders Sebastian Larsson and Martin Olsson as wing backs. Injured left-back Behrang Safari is out for the season while centre-half Daniel Majstorovic has a fractured toe and Olof Mellberg is suspended. Veteran midfielder Anders Svensson (knee) and forward Ola Toivonen (banned) are also unavailable, but striker Markus Rosenberg has been included for the first time in the campaign.
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Wiland (FC København).
Defenders: Michael Almebäck (Örebro SK), Mikael Antonsson (FC København), Andreas Granqvist (FC Groningen), Mikael Lustig (Rosenborg BK), Jonas Olsson (West Bromwich Albion FC), Oscar Wendt (FC København).
Midfielders: Emir Bajrami (FC Twente), Rasmus Elm (AZ Alkmaar), Kim Källström (Olympique Lyonnais), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City FC), Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers FC), Pontus Wernbloom (AZ Alkmaar), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal FC).
Forwards: Marcus Berg (PSV Eindhoven), Johan Elmander (Bolton Wanderers FC), Alexander Gerndt (Helsingborgs IF), Zlatan Ibrahimović (AC Milan), Markus Rosenberg (Real Racing Club).
Moldova
Captain Alexandru Epureanu has not been included in the Moldova squad as he struggles with a thigh problem, though Gavril Balint has not ruled out giving the FC Dinamo Moskva centre-back a late call-up. FC Metalist Kharkiv's Vitalie Bordian is also absent injured, with Nicolae Josan omitted while he searches for a new club. FC Academia UTM Chisinau's Maxim Potîrniche, FC Olimpia Bălţi's Mihail Paseciniuc and FC Sheriff's Anatol Cheptine received their first call-ups.
Goalkeepers: Stanislav Namaşco (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Nicolae Calancea (FC Zimbru Chisinau).
Defenders: Vadim Boreţ (Bakı FK), Petru Racu (IFK Norrköping), Victor Golovatenco (FC Krasnodar), Semion Bulgaru (FC Alania Vladikavkaz), Igor Armaş (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Vadim Bolohan (PFC Sevastopol), Maxim Potîrniche (FC Academia UTM Chisinau).
Midfielders: Eugeniu Cebotaru (FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ), Igor Ţîgîrlaş (FC Chornomorets Odesa), Valeriu Andronic (FC SKA Energia Khabarovsk), Andrei Cojocari (FC Dacia Chişinău), Alexandru Suvorov (MKS Cracovia Kraków), Serghei Gheorghiev (FC Sheriff), Alexandru Gaţcan (FC Rostov), Mihail Paseciniuc (FC Olimpia Bălţi), Anatol Cheptine (FC Sheriff).
Forwards: Viorel Frunza (FC Neman Grodno), Igor Picusciac (FC Krasnodar), Igor Bugaev (FC Lokomotiv Tashkent), Anatolie Doroş (FC Irtysh Pavlodar).
Players in italics have withdrawn.
*Denotes replacement player.