UEFA EUROCUP 2012QUALIFIERS: Gomez, Khedira and Aogo return for Euro matches; Dutch missing Sneijder for Euro qualifiers

Dutch missing Sneijder for Euro qualifiers

 

Holland have already sealed their place in the championship

Holland will face Moldova and Sweden in their remaining two Euro 2012 qualifiers without injured trio Wesley Sneijder, John Heintinga and Ibrahim Afellay.
In contrast Tottenham's Rafael van der Vaart and Nigel de Jong (Manchester City) are once again available after recovering full fitness and the Premier League duo duly figured in Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk's squad announced Friday for the October 7 and 11 ties.
Holland, beaten by Spain in last year's World Cup final, have already sealed their place at next year's European Championships co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
Holland squad
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Roma/ITA), Michel Vorm (Swansea/ENG), Tim Krul (Newcastle United/ENG)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart/GER), Edson Braafheid (Hoffenheim/GER), Jeffrey Bruma (Hamburg)/GER, Joris Mathijsen (Malaga/ESP), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory Van der Wiel (Ajax)
Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (AC Milan/ITA), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City/ENG), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia/ESP), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Kevin Strootman (PSV), Rafael Van der Vaart (Tottenham/ENG), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV)
Forwards: Eljero Elia (Juventus/ITA), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04/GER), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool/ENG), Jeremy Lens (PSV), Robin Van Persie (Arsenal/ENG), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich/GER).

Gomez, Khedira and Aogo return for Euro matches

 

Mario Gomez missed the last two matches
 

Mario Gomez, Sami Khedira and Dennis Aogo will return to the Germany squad for the final two Euro 2012 qualifiers against Turkey and Belgium next month, coach Joachim Loew announced on Friday.
Germany became the first country to qualify for the tournament after they beat Austria 6-0 in Gelsenkirchen earlier this month, and will be bidding to keep their unbeaten record.
"We managed to quickly assure our qualification for the final phase. But we have to remain focused to attain our objective - 10 wins from 10 matches," said Loew.
Bayern Munich striker Gomez and Hamburg defender Aogo missed the last two matches while Real Madrid midfielder Khedira has not played since last June as he has suffered with adductor problems.
Moenchengladbach midfielder Marco Reus will be hoping to finally make his international debut after his previous bids were ruined by injury.

Germany play Turkey in Istanbul on October 7 and host Belgium four days later in Duesseldorf. Turkey and Belgium are second and third respectively in Group A and are hoping to make the play-offs.
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Dennis Aogo (Hamburg), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG), Christian Traesch (Wolfsburg)
Midfielders: Mario Goetze (Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Mesut Oezil (Real Madrid/ESP), Marco Reus (Moenchengladbach), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schuerrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Striker: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio/ITA), Cacau (Stuttgart).

Gerrard admits ‘too early’ for England recall

Gerrard said he was not yet match fit
Paul Ellis, AFP/Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard admitted on Friday it was "probably too early" for him to earn a recall to the England squad for next week's crucial Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro.
Gerrard is slowly returning to club duty after a six-month lay-off following a groin injury, but believes next Friday's game in Podgorica has come too early for him as Fabio Capello prepares to name his squad this weekend.
"I think everyone knows I'm still not 100 percent match fit," Gerrard told Liverpool TV as the Reds prepared for Saturday's Merseyside derby with Everton.
"I have only probably had two 12-minute games. I'm not really sure how much I'm going to play against Everton so, in my opinion, it's probably still a bit too early," Gerrard said.
"I don't make the decisions. Those decisions are down to the England manager, whether he picks me or not.

"In my opinion there are other players out there who are match fit who are probably more suitable for that game, but we'll have to wait and see."
Gerrard meanwhile is relaxed about the probability of him having to start Saturday's derby at Goodison on the bench.
"I totally understand that. With experience I have come to learn about my own body and I haven't been out for two or three weeks with a hamstring or a calf injury. I've had a reconstruction of my groin and it is going to take time," he said.
"To be fair to Kenny and the medical staff, they have handled me perfectly so far and I'm sure they'll do the same in the coming weeks.
"It's important that I don't force it, they don't force it and we don't push it too hard, but I am at the stage now where the only way I'm going to get my match sharpness, match fitness and get back to the form I want to play at is if I get game time."

Portugal hand Sereno first call-up

AFP 7 minutes ago

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Portugal's coach Paulo Bento 

Cologne defender Henrique Sereno was called up to the Portugal squad for the first time on Friday as coach Paulo Bento aims to plot a way past Denmark and Iceland and into the Euro 2012 finals.
Portugal have 13 points from their six matches and top Group H. But they lead the Danes and Norway only on goal difference with just the group winners assured of a place in the finals.
Goalkeeper Beto, defender Ricardo Costa, midfielders Ruben Amorim and Carlos Martins, as well as strikers Quaresma and Nuno Gomes are all recalled for the match against Iceland in Porto on October 7 as well as the trip to Copenhagen, four days later.
Experienced defender Ricardo Carvalho is the major absentee after he was handed a year's suspension for storming out of a training session on the eve of the match against Cyprus.

Portugal squad for the Euro 2012 Group H qualifiers against Iceland (Oct 7) and Denmark (Oct 11):
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Benfica/POR), Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Beto (Cluj/ROM).
Defenders: Silvio (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Eliseu (Malaga/ESP), Bruno Alves (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Rolando (FC Porto/POR), Ricardo Costa (Valencia/ESP), Sereno (Cologne/GER), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon/POR).
Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Chelsea/ENG), Joao Moutinho (FC Porto/POR), Carlos Martins (Grenada/ESP), Miguel Veloso (Genoa/ITA), Paulo Machado (Toulouse/FRA), Ruben Amorim (Benfica/POR), Ruben Micael (Real Zaragoza/ESP).
Attackers: Christiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Nani (Manchester United/ENG), Quaresma (Besiktas/TUR), Helder Postiga (Real Zaragoza/ESP), Nuno Gomes (Sporting Braga/POR).