Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after suffering a back injury. The Stoke no.1 was substituted during the 3-1 defeat to Brazil in Saturday’s clash in Hamburg.
His place in the squad has been taken by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Sorensen said: “Right now I am very disappointed but we need to ensure the proper treatment of the spine.
“Then I will support my comrades in the national team as best I can from home.”
Bent helped by his religious faith
Darren Bent has revealed his religious faith has helped him cope with missing out on England’s Euro 2012 squad through injury.
The Aston Villa striker failed to recover in time from an ankle ligament injury to be chosen by new England head coach Roy Hodgson. But Bent admits reading the Bible helps him to deal with such setbacks.
He said: “I read the Bible every day before I get up. You’ve got to have faith.
“I’ve been through some hard times and missing out on major tournaments like this one.
“It has been difficult, but I’m a believer that good things come to those who wait.”
Hiddink named Korean GP envoy
Dutch football coach Guus Hiddink, who led South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002, was selected as special ambassador for the Formula One Korean Grand Prix.
Hiddink accepted the newly-created appointment during his visit to the southern city of Gwangju, the South Jeolla pro-vincial government said.
Hiddink, 65, who joined Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala this year, is still widely respected in South Korea and was granted citizenship for his World Cup efforts.
Organisers said Hiddink would help draw more foreign and domestic fans to the event, held this year from October 12-14.
Criscito pressure
Cesare Prandelli said he dropped Domenico Criscito from his squad due to the “inhuman” pressure the full-back would face if he went to Poland and Ukraine.
Criscito was subjected to a search warrant by police on Monday as part of an inves-tigation into match-fixing.
Prandelli acted quickly by dismissing Criscito from the squad and the coach says it’s for the player’s own good.
“I’m not taking Criscito be-cause we would have had to face pressure that no human being could have handled,” said Prandelli.
“The other reason is that he could have been called up by the public prosecutor at any time, even before a game.”
Cole wants Reds’ second chance
Joe Cole would love to have a second crack at making a success of his Liverpool career.
The 30-year-old midfielder endured a poor campaign with the Reds after joining from Chelsea in 2010 but resurrected his career by helping Lille finish third in Ligue 1 last season.
“I would love the chance to put it right,” he said.
“I’ve been a success at West Ham, a success at Chelsea, and come to another country in France and had a good season.
“It’s just that year at Liverpool... now it’s in their hands.
“I’m easy whatever way but the fire still burns with me and I would love to have the chance to put it right if that’s what they wanted.”
Amalfitano relishing move
French midfielder Romain Amalfitano said he was relishing his move to Newcastle.
The 22-year-old will officially become a Magpies player on July 1 when his contract with Reims in his native France ends.
And Amalfitano believes he has the right mind-set for Newcastle, who finished fifth in the Premier League to secure a spot in the Europa League.
“Naturally, I have this win-ning mentality that all football players tend to have,” Amal-fitano said.
“Newcastle have already shown last season that they’ve also got that kind of mentality.
“So, I’m hoping to learn and get involved as much as pos-sible with that.”
Chicharito named UNICEF envoy
Mexican footballer Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who plays for Manchester United, was named a UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ambassador.
“When I heard that UNICEF wished to invite me to become a National Ambassador, immediately I thought: if it’s about doing something for the children of my country, I am in,” Hernandez said at his designation ceremony.
Chicharito is Spanish for a ‘little pea’.
Hernandez earned the nickname – written on his jersey – from his father, Javier, a Mexican striker who played in the 1986 World Cup and was known as Chicharo, or ‘pea’, because of his green eyes.