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-> Astafjevs set for

   Latvian centenary

Vitalis Astafjevs in his country's captain

Latvia captain Vitalis Astafjevs is in line for his 100th cap after being named in his country's squad to face Slovenia in a pre-UEFA EURO 2004™ warm-up.

Birthday celebration
The midfield player, who celebrates his 33rd birthday three days after the international friendly in Ljubljana on Wednesday 31 March, is part of an experienced 21-man squad named by coach Aleksandrs Starkovs. While there are no untried faces, striker Andrejs Prohorenkovs returns after a lengthy absence with a knee injury.

Tough group
Latvia will also play friendlies against Iceland on 28 April and Azerbaijan on 6 June before heading to Portugal for this summer's finals. They have been drawn in Group D with Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Latvia squad
Kolinko, Piedels, Stepanovs, Isakovs, Blagonadezdins, Zakresevskis, Zirnis, Korablovs, Smirnovs, Laizans, Astafjevs, Rubins, Bleidelis, Lobanovs, Pucinskis, Semjonovs, Pahars, Verpakovskis, Prohorenkovs, Rimkus, Kalnins.

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-> Yakin lacking for

   Switzerland

Switzerland's Murat Yakin will be out for some time

FC Basel 1893 defender Murat Yakin faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after tearing a muscle in his right thigh – an injury that might threaten the Swiss international's participation in UEFA EURO 2004™.

Essential operation
Yakin underwent surgery on Thursday, having aggravated the injury in Basel's 1-1 draw with FC St. Gallen in the Swiss Football League on Sunday. Subsequent scans revealed that surgery was essential.

Title favourites
Although Basel are on course to win the Swiss league title – Christian Gross's side are still unbeaten in the league and are 15 points clear at the head of the standings – Yakin's loss is potentially more worrying for Switzerland.

Spycher setback
He joins midfield players Johann Vogel and Christoph Spycher on the injury list for the friendly against Greece on 31 March. PSV Eindhoven's Vogel has a hip injury while Spycher, who made his international debut against Italy last year, tore a muscle in his left leg in Grasshopper-Club's match against FC Thun on Sunday.

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Portugal Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari

Portugal have announced that they will prepare for UEFA EURO 2004™ at a training base in Óbidos, near the city of Leiria.

Peaceful surroundings
The news was confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president, Dr Gilberto Madaíl, and corresponds to the wishes of national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who considers the quiet and peaceful surroundings of Óbidos to be the ideal location in which to prepare for the tournament.

'Best infrastructure'
"This is a gift to the national team, because we know that we will find here all the necessary requirements for a good performance in the finals," Dr Madaíl said. "We have been taking care of everything in the proper way, by selecting the best infrastructure and the best location so that the national side can perform well in EURO 2004™."

Hotel visit
Madaíl recently visited the Praia D'El Rey Marriott Golf and Beach Resort, the hotel where the team will be staying, along with FPF vice-president Amândio de Carvalho, general secretary Manuel Quaresma, sports director Carlos Godinho and press officer Afonso de Melo.

Consortium support
With the support of the Leiria Football Association, a consortium comprising the Óbidos town hall and the management of the hotel will help finance the Seleção's stay in Óbidos

Benefits for region
"Every region always has something to benefit from being associated with a big project and UEFA EURO 2004™ is, definitely, a very big project," said the mayor of Óbidos, Telmo Faria. "EURO 2004™ will have economical effects that, of course, will benefit Óbidos."

'Easier way'
"We are not talking about significant amounts of money," he added on the issue of the consortium. "We mainly are talking about accommodation and meals and when you have a fair number of partners, the financial resources come in an easier way." FPF representatives will soon meet with hotel management and Óbidos town hall officials to finalise the details of training pitches, security and meals.

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