Injury-hit Germany face tricky task in Cyprus

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) Germany have been scoring for fun in Euro 2008 qualifying but coach Joachim Loew must deal with an injury crisis in negotiating a tricky test away at Cyprus today.

The match in Nicosia is one of seven qualifiers across the continent in a truncated programme featuring action in just three of the seven groups. Elsewhere, a host of friendlies offer coaches the chance to experiment before their sides resume qualifying next year.

Germany have won three from three, in the process scoring 18 goals, to sit two points behind Group D leaders Czech Republic with a game in hand.

Loew's squad has been decimated by injury though.

Already without goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, injured strikers Lukas Podolski and Gerald Asamoah, midfielders Tim Borowski, Sebastian Kehl and Sebastian Deisler as well as defenders Christoph Metzfelder, Marcell Jansen and Alexander Madlung, Germany suffered another blow on Monday when midfield duo Bernd Schneider and Piotr Trochowski were ruled out.

''We have a lot of tired players and a lot of injured players,'' team manager Oliver Bierhoff warned. ''It would be a huge error to underestimate Cyprus now.

''We'll have to be extremely wary.'' Cyprus have three points from three matches but are far from pushovers at home as Ireland will testify to having been huniliated 5-2 in Nicosia last month.

Also in Group D, Ireland will be seeking their first win and a boost to their goal difference when they host San Marino, who have conceded 20 goals in their two games.

SOARING CONFIDENCE The battle for supremacy in Group E hots up with Israel hosting Croatia and Macedonia at home to Russia.

Israel have not lost on home soil for seven years and are unbeaten in their last 13 matches in qualifying competitions.

They face a Croatia side whose confidence will be sky high after a 2-0 win over England in Zagreb last month.

Both sides have seven points from three matches and Israel coach Dror Kashtan said he was fully aware of the task facing his team.

''Croatia is the strongest team in the group...they are disciplined and organised and have excellent players who play in the best clubs across Europe. We can expect a very tough match,'' he said.

World Cup semi-finalists Portugal need three points at home to Kazakhstan in Coimbra to put their Group A campaign back on track after a stuttering start which has yielded four points from three games.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admits his side are in a transitional phase and has dropped experienced defender Nuno Valente and midfielders Costinha and Maniche to give a chance for young goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes, defenders Tonel and Nelson and midfielder Raul Meireles to shine. With Group A leaders Serbia not in action, unbeaten Finland have the chance to grap top spot if they can overcome Armenia in Helsinki. Belgium take on Poland in the other Group A tie.

Some intriguing friendlies offer some of Europe's elite to gauge their progress.

Steve McClaren will demand a positive response from his England side following the Croatia defeat as they face the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

World Cup finalists France host European champions Greece while world champions Italy face Turkey in Bergamo without several regulars.

Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has included uncapped duo Alberto Aquilani and Cristian Brocchi in his 20-man squad with injuries ruling out midfielders Gennaro Gattuso and Simone Perrotta, and strikers Alessandro Del Piero, Luca Toni and David Di Michele.

Brazil's policy of playing friendlies in Europe continues with a game against Switzerland in Basel. Werder Bremen midfielder Diego has been recalled after a two-year absence but out of sorts striker Ronaldo was left out.

Coach Dunga will be defending a four-match unbeaten record as coach since he replaced Carlos Alberto Parreira after this year's World Cup.

Reuters PM GC0910