Norway’s Haaland to miss Euro games
LONDON: Striker Erling Haaland will miss Norway’s next two Euro qualifiers against Spain and Georgia due to a groin injury, the country’s football association said yesterday.
Haaland, who recently scored five goals for his club Manchester City against Leipzig in the Champions League and a hat-trick against Burnley in the FA Cup, complained about groin pain following the Burnley game over the weekend.
The Norwegian Football Federation said Haaland had left the national team’s training camp in Marbella, Spain, to undergo a medical follow-up with his Premier League club.
“After tests and examinations, it is clear that he will not be ready for the games against Spain and Georgia,” team doctor Ola Sand said in a statement.
Norway will play two away games in their Euro 2024 qualifying group A debut, first against Spain in Malaga on Saturday and Georgia in Batumi next Tuesday.
RASHFORD RULED OUT
England will be without Marcus Rashford for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine after the in-form Manchester United forward picked up a knock in Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Fulham.
Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount have also pulled out of Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the only replacement called up by Southgate, who named a 25-man squad last week.
Rashford’s absence is the most serious blow given his scintillating form since the World Cup.
The 25-year-old has scored a careerhigh 27 goals for United this season, 19 of which have come since returning from international duty in Qatar, where he netted three times in five appearances.
DUTCH LOSE DE JONG
The Netherlands will face France in their Euro 2024 qualifying clash this week without injured playmaker Frenkie de Jong and winger Steven Bergwijn, the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced on Monday.
They have been replaced by PSV Eindhoven’s Joey Veerman and Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen as the Dutch take on Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Friday, before playing Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.
De Jong featured 90 minutes for Barcelona in Sunday’s El Clasico win over Real Madrid.