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Injury rules Babel out of Euro 2008

Ryan Babel will miss Euro 2008 after tearing ankle ligaments in training
Ryan Babel will miss Euro 2008 after tearing ankle ligaments in training

Netherlands winger Ryan Babel will miss Euro 2008 after tearing ankle ligaments in training today.

Babel is expected to be out of action for several weeks and will therefore not take part in the summer showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.

The Liverpool man sustained the injury a day before the Netherlands play their final pre-tournament friendly, against Wales in Rotterdam.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten has added Khalid Boulahrouz to his squad for Euro 2008.

Boulahrouz was dropped on Tuesday when Van Basten cut his squad to 23 players, opting instead for Mario Melchiot.

But the 26-year-old Chelsea man, who has spent the season on loan with Sevilla, is back in following Liverpool winger Babel's injury.

The Dutch FA are required to hand over an MRI scan of Babel's ankle to be able to add Boulahrouz to the squad.

The Dutch will line up alongside France, Italy and Romania in Group C.

Their first match is on 9 June against world champions Italy.

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