Euro 2008

Barnetta and Von Bergen join Swiss injury list

14:07 BST, Wed 21 May 2008
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Switzerland's national team soccer player Tranquillo Barnetta reacts after being injured during a training session in Lugano May 20, 2008. (EURO 2008 PREVIEW) REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (SWITZERLAND)

LUGANO, Switzerland, May 21 (Reuters) - Switzerland's injury-plagued team have added two more players to the casualty list after Tranquillo Barnetta and Steve von Bergen picked up knocks at their Euro 2008 training camp.

Barnetta has suffered a sprained ankle with accompanying pulled ligaments and would miss Saturday's warm-up match against Slovakia, the Swiss FA announced on Wednesday.

The Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder, voted player of the year at Sunday's Swiss football awards ceremony, picked up the injury following a tackle by fellow midfielder Gelson Fernandes in training on Tuesday.

A team doctor told reporters on Wednesday that Barnetta would be rested until next week, but said he was expected to recover in time for Euro 2008, which Switzerland are co-hosting with neighbouring Austria.

Von Bergen's involvement in the tournament looks less likely, after x-rays showed a broken bone in his right hand.

The defender was due to see a hand surgeon later on Wednesday, after which Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn would decide whether or not to call up a replacement.

Kuhn has already had to make two changes this week to the country's provisional squad.

Reserve goalkeeper Fabio Coltorti was replaced by the uncapped Eldin Jakupovic on Monday after picking up a post-viral fatigue syndrome.

On Tuesday, Kuhn called up Young Boys Berne striker Thomas Haeberli to take the place of injured Blaise Nkufo.

Switzerland have already lost defensive midfielder Blerim Dzemaili and playmaker Xavier Margairaz to cruciate ligament injuries and are still to decide on the fitness of central defender Patrick Mueller and Philipp Degen.

Euro 2008 runs from June 7-29, with Switzerland drawn in Group A alongside the Czech Republic, Turkey and Euro 2004 finalists Portugal.

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