Carvalho misses Euro 2008 qualifiers

13 November 2007 22:17

Bet $5 $10 $20 $50 $100

Returns:

Armenia $

Draw $

Malta $

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.