Injured Berezutsky to miss Euro 2012
Reuters - Sunday 20 May 2012, 15:13
Full-back Vasily Berezutsky will
miss the 2012 European Championships after failing to recover
from a hip injury, Russia coach Dick Advocaat said on Sunday.
"Berezutsky won't be able to regain his form in time for the
tournament," Advocaat told reporters following the opening day
of Russia's training camp.
Berezutsky, who along with his twin brother Alexei played at
Euro 2008, where Russia reached the semi-finals, has been out
since hurting his hip last month.
"Unfortunately, the injury turned out to be worse than was
first diagnosed," said the CSKA Moscow central defender.
"I still feel discomfort when I try to run and I don't want
to jeopardise my team by going to the Euros unprepared."
Advocaat said Sporting midfielder Marat Izmailov, who this
month earned a surprise recall to the national team, would be
dropped from a preliminary 26-man squad if he did not report to
the training camp by Monday.
"If he is not here by tomorrow than he should just stay in
Portugal," said the Dutchman, who will step down as Russia boss
following the tournament to take charge of Dutch club PSV
Eindhoven.
Izmailov, due to play for Sporting in Sunday's Portuguese
Cup final, was not sure he could make the deadline.
"I have some other team commitments after the cup final,"
the 29-year-old, who has not played for Russia since 2006, was
quoted as saying by local media last week.
Euro 2012, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, starts on June 8
when Russia play the Czech Republic, while Poland face 2004
European champions Greece in the other Group A match.