International Roundup

Larsson set to return for Sweden against Hungary

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -- Sweden striker Henrik Larsson is to make his international return in the Euro 2004 qualifier against Hungary on April 2.

Larsson, who announced his international retirement after the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, is likely to be in the starting lineup.

"The best part of this squad ... is that he (Larsson) has decided to return," coach Lars Lagerback said Tuesday.

Lagerback said Larsson had not decided if his international return would extend beyond the Hungary match.

"We've agreed he will play this game and after that we will see," he said. "We haven't decided anything yet."

Sweden has taken only two points from its first two Euro 2004 qualifying matches.

Swedish squad: Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Djurgarden), Magnus Kihlstedt (FC Copenhagen) Defenders: Erik Edman (Heerenveen), Andreas Jakobsson (Hansa Rostock), Nils-Eric Johansson (Blackburn Rovers), Teddy Lucic (Leeds United), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa), Johan Mjallby (Celtic), Michael Svensson (Southampton) Midfielders: Anders Andersson (Benfica), Mattias Jonson (Brondby), Kim Kallstrom (Djurgarden), Marcus Lantz (Hansa Rostock), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal), Mikael Nilsson (Halmstad), Anders Svensson (Southampton) Strikers: Marcus Allback (Aston Villa), Andreas Andersson (AIK Stockholm), Johan Elmander (Djurgarden), Henrik Larsson (Celtic), Rade Prica (Hansa Rostock)

Rosicky called up for Czech Republic despite injury

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Midfielder Tomas Rosicky has been called up for the Czech Republic's upcoming EURO 2004 qualifiers despite a four-week injury layoff.

The Dortmund midfielder injured his thigh in a Bundesliga match against Schalke in February but should be fit by the end of the week, Czech national team coach Karel Bruckner said.

Other stars on the Czech team for the March 29 match against the Netherlands in Rotterdam and the April 2 game against Austria in Prague include Pavel Nedved of Juventus, Karel Poborsky of Sparta Prague, Jan Koller of Dortumnd and Milan Baros of Liverpool.

The Netherlands and the Czech Republic lead qualifying Group 3 with six points from two games. Austria has six points from three games.

Czech squad Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Rennes). Defenders: Rene Bolf (Banik Ostrava), Zdenek Grygera (Sparta Prague), Tomas Hubschman (Sparta Prague), Marek Jankulovski (Udinese), Martin Jiranek (Reggina), Tomas Ujfalusi (Hamburger SV). Midfielders: Richard Dostalek (Slavia Prague), Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam), Patrik Gedeon (Slavia Prague), Jiri Jarosik (CSKA Moscow), Pavel Nedved (Juventus), Karel Poborsky (Sparta Prague), Tomas Rosicky (Dortmund), Vladimir Smicer (Liverpool). Forwards: Milan Baros (Liverpool), Jan Koller (Dortmund), Vratislav Lokvenc (Kaiserslautern), Stepan Vachousek (Slavia Prague).

Croatia calls up Monaco striker Prso to squad

ZAGREB (Reuters) -- Croatia coach Otto Baric named uncapped Monaco striker Dado Prso in his squad for its Euro 2004 qualifier against Belgium on March 29 which it badly need to win to keep its qualifying chances alive.

The 29-year old in-form Prso, almost completely unknown at home until last month, is expected to give an additional edge to the Croatian attack in Zagreb, which has been Baric's main concern since he took over in July 2002.

Prso is expected to team up with Dinamo Zagreb striker Ivica Olic or Wolfsburg forward Tomislav Maric.

The squad will welcome back central defender Igor Tudor of Juventus who will now be given a more creative role in the midfield as he has in the Italian Serie A champions' side.

He is expected to play alongside Robert Kovac of Bayern Munich, Josip Simunic of Hertha Berlin, and Inter Milan's Dario Simic.

"I called up the best players we have at the moment, and I think nobody can tell me that I missed someone out," Baric told a news conference.

Former Middlesbrough striker Alen Boksic, who is retiring from soccer this season at the age of 33, declined Baric's invitation to lead the attack, citing age, injuries and, most of all, poor form and lack of competitive games.

"I wanted him in the team because he would fit well in our attack against Belgium but he decided to stay away," Baric said.

Boksic is the last of the so-called Fiery 11 generation, who finished a surprising third at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Croatia is trailing Bulgaria and Belgium in Group Eight, after losing to Bulgaria and managing only a goalless draw at home to underdog Estonia.

Since the 2-0 defeat in Sofia last October, Croatia has fielded around 40 players in three friendlies, and beat Romania in Timisoara, but drew against Macedonia and Poland at home.

Anything short of six points in the qualifiers against Belgium and Andorra (April 2) in Varazdin would seriously hit its hopes of clinching a berth for next year's championship in Portugal.

Croatian squad: Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Hajduk Split), Tomislav Butina (Dinamo Zagreb) Defenders: Dario Simic (AC Milan), Robert Kovac (Bayern Munich), Igor Tudor (Juventus), Boris Zivkovic (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Tokic (GAK Graz), Stjepan Tomas (Como), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin) Midfielders: Marko Babic (Bayer Leverkusen), Jerko Leko (Dinamo Kiev), Giovani Rosso (Maccabi Haifa), Milan Rapaic (Hajduk Split), Darijo Srna (Hajduk Split), Miljenko Mumlek (Varteks), Niko Kovac (Bayern Munich) Forwards: Ivica Olic (Dinamo Zagreb), Tomislav Maric (Wolfsburg), Dado Prso (Monaco), Mario Stanic (Chelsea), Ivica Mornar (Anderlecht).

Liechtenstein squad based on young talent vs. England

VADUZ, Liechtenstein (Reuters) -- Liechtenstein coach Ralf Loose will keep faith with his inexperienced players after naming an 18-man squad to face England in their 2004 European Championship qualifier Tuesday.

Loose's young squad suffered a 5-0 defeat to Turkey in October, but the Liechtenstein coach has resisted the temptation of making sweeping changes ahead of the visit of England on March 29.

Striker Mario Frick is one of the few experienced players in the Liechtenstein squad and he is set to play as a lone forward.

Frick, of Italian side Ternana Calcio, is joint leading scorer in the squad with four goals to his credit from 38 internationals.

Martin Stocklasa, who has also scored four international goals, will be part of a five-man midfield aimed at stopping England's creativity at the Rheinpark Stadium.

Goalkeeper Peter Jehle, 21, will play his first game of 2003 after warming the bench at Swiss Nationalliga leaders Grasshoppers-Zurich.

FC Vaduz defender Christof Ritter is expected by local media to return to the starting lineup at left-back after a lack of match fitness forced him on to the bench against Turkey.

Daniel Hasler is tipped to win his 45th cap in central defense as he partners Michael Stocklasa, the scorer of the 90th minute goal which earned Liechtenstein a 1-1 draw with Macedonia in the Group Seven opener in September.

Young defender Remo Eberle, an unused substitute in Istanbul, and Mario Wolfinger and Marco Nigg, both left out of the Turkey defeat, are not selected for the visit of Sven-Goran Eriksson's England.

Liechtenstein squad: Goalkeepers: Martin Heeb (USV Eschen-Mauren), Peter Jehle (Grasshoppers Zurich). Defenders: Frederic Gigon (FC Baulmes), Daniel Hasler (FC Wil 1900), Jurgen Ospelt (Chur 97), Christof Ritter (FC Vaduz), Michael Stocklasa (FC Vaduz), Harry Zech (USV Eschen-Mauren). Midfielders: Ronny Buchel (FC Vaduz), Matthias Beck (USV Eschen-Mauren), Franz Burgmeier (FC Vaduz), Andreas Gerster (FC Vaduz), Thomas Nigg (USV Eschen-Mauren), Martin Telser (FC Vaduz), Martin Stocklasa (FC Vaduz). Strikers: Thomas Beck (FC Vaduz), Mario Frick (Ternana Calcio), Fabio D'Elia (Chur 97).

Slovenian trio back in squad for Euro qualifier

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) -- Defender Muamer Vugdalic and midfielders Amir Karic and Mladen Rudonja have been restored to the Slovenian squad for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Cyprus in Ljubljana on April 2.

The trio all sat out a 5-1 friendly home defeat by Switzerland in February through injury

"We will play at home and we will play to win. I am sure the players will be more motivated than they were in the friendly matches we played over the past months," Slovenian coach Bojan Prasnikar told Reuters.

Slovenian squad: Goalkeepers: Mladen Dabanovic (Lokeren), Marko Simeunovic (Olympiakos Nicosia) Defenders: Spasoje Bulajic (FSV Mainz 05), Fabijan Cipot (Al Sadd Sports Club), Aleksander Knavs (Kaiserslautern), Muamer Vugdalic (Shakhtar Donatsk) Midfielders: Milenko Acimovic (Tottenham Hotspur), Nastja Ceh (Club Brugge), Amir Karic (Maribor), Miran Pavlin (Olimpija Ljubljana), Mladen Rudonja (Olimpija Ljubljana), Goran Sukalo (SpVgg Unterhaching), Rajko Tavcar (SVW Burghausen), Zlatko Zahovic (Benfica), Anton Zlogar (Olimpija Ljubljana) Forwards: Sebastjan Cimirotic (Lecce), Marko Kmetec (Olimpija Ljubljana), Ermin Rakovic (Maribor), Ermin Siljak (Panionios GS)

Hani Ramzy dropped from Egyptian squad

CAIRO (Reuters) -- Egypt has dropped experienced midfielder Hani Ramzy from its squad for Wednesday's friendly against Qatar and the African Nations Cup qualifier in Mauritius at the end of the month, officials announced Tuesday.

Ramzy, who plays for struggling German club Kaiserslautern, was left out after a disappointing match against Denmark last month, when Egypt suffered a 4-1 defeat in Cairo in a friendly international.

But officials said he was likely to be recalled when Egypt plays European champion France in Paris on April 30.

Coach Mohsen Salah has recalled former Anderlecht midfielder Tarek Said and named four uncapped players in his squad.

They are striker Gamal Hamza from African champions Zamalek, club mate Mohamed Abdelwahed, midfielder Ahmed Fathi of Ismailia and goalkeeper Essam Mahmoud from ENPPI.

Egypt hosts Qatar in Cairo on Wednesday before playing Mauritius on March 30.

Egypt must win its match away on the Indian Ocean island if is to have any realistic hope of qualifying for next year's Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

Egyptian squad: Goalkeepers: Essam Al Hadari (Al Ahli), Abdelwahed El Sayed (Zamalek), Essam Mahmoud (ENPPI) Defenders: Amr El Desouki (Al Masry), Emad El Nahhas (Ismailia), Abdelzaher El Saqqa (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Tarek El Sayed, Bechir El Tabei (both Zamalek), Wael Gomaa, Hady Khashaba (both Al Ahli), Sayed Moawad (Ismailia), Shady Mohamed (Al Ahli), Hani Said (Bari, Italy) Midfielders: Ayman Abdelaziz (Malatayspor, Turkey), Sayed Abdelhafiz (Al Ahli), Mohamed Abdelwahed (Zamalek), Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahli Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), Ahmed Fathi (Ismailia), Hossam Ghali, Mohamed Gouda (both Al Ahli), Ahmed Hassan (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Tarek Said (Zamalek) Strikers: Abdelhalim Ali, Gamal Hamza (both Zamalek), Ahmed Hossam (Celta Vigo, Spain), Ahmed Salah Hosni (Al Ahli)

 

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