INJURIES HIT FINNISH MIDFIELD FOR ARMENIA GAME

Reuters, UK
Nov 7 2006

HELSINKI, Nov 7 (Reuters) – Finland will be without experienced
midfielders Jari Litmanen and Aki Riihilahti on Nov. 15 when they
meet Armenia for a home game in European Championship qualifying.

Long-time national team captain Litmanen, 35, has a thigh injury
and will also have ankle surgery. He is expected to be out until
mid-December. Kaiserslautern’s Riihilahti re-injured his calf muscle
last weekend.

Tottenham’s Teemu Tainio might also miss the group A game in Helsinki,
a Finnish Football Association spokesman said.

Coach Roy Hodgson will announce his squad on Thursday.

After four games, Finland lie second behind Serbia in the group with
eight points. Armenia have one point from three games.