Denmark striker Ebbe Sand is "very doubtful" for Sunday's Euro 2004 quarter-final against the Czech Republic because of a muscle injury, Danish coach Morten Olsen told reporters on Thursday.
Olsen said a scan had shown up a damaged muscle in Sand's hamstring region. Sand has been struggling with the injury since the opening Group C game against Italy and he may have aggravated it during Tuesday's 2-2 draw against Sweden that secured the Danes' place in the last eight. The injury to Sand followed news that fullback Niclas Jensen was likely to miss the rest of Euro 2004 due to a deep gash in his left foot.
Should Sand miss out on Sunday's match in Porto then Olsen could turn to 26-year-old striker Peter Madsen of VfL Bochum as a replacement. Another option would be to ask the in-form Jon Dahl Tomasson, who scored both goals against the Swedes, to move forward into the main striker's role, allowing Olsen to draft in another midfielder. Olsen also has Peter Lovenkrands of Glasgow Rangers and Kenneth Perez of AZ Alkmaar as attacking cover.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
