Norway striker Erling Haaland will miss their Euro 2024 qualifiers against Spain and Georgia after picking up a groin injury in Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Burnley, the Norwegian Football Federation said on Tuesday.

Haaland, who has 21 goals in 23 appearances for Norway, has been in scintillating form this season, scoring 42 goals for City since arriving from Borussia Dortmund last June.

“After doing tests and examinations yesterday, it became clear that he will not make the matches against Spain and Georgia,” national team doctor Ola Sand said. “It is better that he then gets medical follow-up in the club.”

Norway are in Group A along with Cyprus, Georgia, Scotland and Spain. They play Spain in Malaga on Saturday before travelling to face Georgia on Tuesday.

“Erling took it hard when he realised that he could not play for the team,” national coach Stale Solbakken said. “Fortunately, there is still plenty of talent and unity in this group to win points.”

Dutch decision

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman added Donyell Malen and Joey Veerman to his squad on Tuesday after the blow of losing key midfielder Frenkie de Jong for their opening two European Championship qualifiers.

De Jong withdrew on Monday after suffering an injury on Sunday playing for Barcelona against Real Madrid in their top-of-the-table clash in Spain.

PSV Eindhoven’s Veerman replaces De Jong while Borussia Dortmund striker Malen replaces Steven Bergwijn, who is also out with a knee injury.

The Dutch begin their qualifiers on Friday away against France in Paris, followed by a home game on Monday against Gibraltar in Rotterdam.

Zlatan’s ‘return’

Sweden welcomed back Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a knee injury on Tuesday ahead of their opening qualifier against Belgium on Friday, with the striker cheekily declaring himself the past, present and future of the side.

Mbappe to captain

Kylian Mbappe. File picture

Paris: Paris Saint-Germainforward Kylian Mbappe has been named France captain to succeed Hugo Lloris, the French football federation(FFF) said on Monday.

French sports daily L’Equipe reported that Mbappe had accepted the captaincy after speaking with coach Didier Deschamps. “Didier Deschamps hasnamed Kylian Mbappe thenew captain of Les Bleus.Antoine Griezmann is the vice-captain,” the FFF said on Twitter.

“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility. On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element,” FrenchTV channel TF1 quoted Deschamps as saying.

Reuters