The Euro 2004 Football Championships.
1 DAY TO GO!
England Camp: Terry all but ruled out
From correspondents in Lisbon
June 11, 2004
JOHN TERRY's chances of playing for England in the Euro 2004 opener against France on Sunday appeared to have disappeared after the Chelsea centre-back missed a deadline to return to full training today.
Terry, 23, only took part in the first 20 minutes of England's hour-long workout before leaving his team-mates to continue rehabilitation work on his injured hamstring.
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson said he would be highly unlikely to pick Terry unless he was back in full training 48 hours ahead of the match at the Stadium of Light.
An FA spokesman said: "John is just taking part in the first part of the session then he will continue the final part of his rehabilitation with physiotherapist Gary Lewin."
Eriksson has said he would be reluctant to risk Terry aggravating the injury and missing the other two group games against Swizerland and Croatia.
With Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand suspended and Newcastle's Jonathan Woodgate out of the tournament through injury, Eriksson is facing a defensive crisis which Terry's injury has worsened.
His choice to replace Terry would be between Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King, both with little experience of playing at the heart of the English defence.
Agence France-Presse
Holland Camp: Van der Sar doubt for Dutch
From correspondents in Albufeira, Portgual
June 11, 2004
DUTCH goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a doubt for the Netherlands' opening Euro 2004 match against Germany on Tuesday after injuring his finger in training.
Fulham custodian Van der Sar, 33, was forced to pull out of training today after damaging a finger in his right hand.
Better news for the 1988 champions came in the form of AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf who participated in training for the first time since sustaining a thigh injury.
However, Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has already confirmed that Ajax ace Rafael van der Vaart will start in central midfield with Seedorf set for a spot on the substitutes' bench.
Agence France-Presse
Denmark Camp: Danish star's mum dies
From correspondents in Copenhagen
June 11, 2004
THE mother of Jesper Groenkjaer, Denmark's key striker who didn't travel with his teammates to Portugal for Euro 2004, has died, news reports said today.
On Monday, the Danish Soccer Federation said the 27-year-old forward stayed home because of an illness in his family and would remain "until he feels that he can leave Denmark and join the national side."
The rest of the Danish team arrived in Portugal on Monday.
The Ekstra Bladet and B.T., Denmark's two rival tabloid dailies, said today that Irmelin Groenkjaer, his mother, died yesterday from cancer, citing unnamed sources with the Danish team.
There was no immediate comment from the Danish Soccer Federation.
Earlier this week, Danish coach Morten Olsen said he "fully understood" Groenkjaer's wish to stay home and that Denmark, which won the championship in 1992, could face this year's tournament without the striker who has 46 caps and four goals.
More news & previews for opening matches in next post.
Agence France-Presse
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