Carvalho misses Euro 2008 qualifiers Written by: AFP  |  |
| | Portugalīs veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho, seen here in July 2007, has a back problem and will miss their crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Finland and Armenia on November 17 and 21 |
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LISBON (AFP) - Portugal's veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho has a back problem and will miss their crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Finland and Armenia on November 17 and 21, the national team doctor said on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old Chelsea star injured his spinal column in the weekend's 1-1 Premier League draw against Everton, doctor Henrique Jones told the Portuguese press.
Carvalho - capped 39 times and a member of the Portugal sides that reached both the Euro 2004 final and 2006 World Cup semi-finals - is expected to be out of action for several weeks.
Portugal are in a four way fight for the two qualifying positions in Group A - presently they lie second just a point behind leaders Poland, but just three points ahead of both Serbia and Finland.