Carlos Puyol OUT for Euro

[RaoulDuke]

Bad news for Spain

Puyol set for knee surgery, will miss Euro


BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Barcelona defender Carles Puyol will undergo knee surgery, the Spanish league club said Tuesday, ruling the Spain international out of next month's European Championship.

Puyol on Saturday finished Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Espanyol with discomfort in his right knee, and subsequent medical tests led the 34-year-old to opt for arthroscopic surgery.

Barcelona said the surgery will be performed on Saturday and Puyol will need six weeks to recover, dealing Spain a major defensive setback ahead of its bid to become the first nation to defend its European title after winning the 2010 World Cup.

Puyol previously had surgery on his left knee, which sidelined him for much of last season. The Barcelona captain seemed to have recovered and was a regular in the Catalan club's lineup though out the season.

Puyol played in all matches that led Spain to win the Euro 2008 in Austria and the World Cup in South Africa two years later. He has 99 caps and has played for Spain at all major championships since the 2002 World Cup.

Spain opens Group C play on June 10 against Italy. They will also face Ireland and Croatia at the continental tournament that is co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

The Euro 2012 runs from June 8 to July 1.

[Soberphobia]

Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

Bad news for Spain

It's a bad loss but not a dire one. You searching for hopeful holes in that incredible Spanish side?

Just on centre-halves - don't know if you've been following the Premier League but John Terry has been terrible this season - watched the Liverpool Chelsea game the other day and he was just embarassing. Pretty sure he's still English Captain? No doubt the Poms will pick him and he'll derail yet another English Cup run. Probably a first round exit again.

Looking forward to the Euros - without doubt the highest quality football competition on God's green Earth.

[RaoulDuke]

Originally Posted by Black Death

It's a bad loss but not a dire one. You searching for hopeful holes in that incredible Spanish side?

Just on centre-halves - don't know if you've been following the Premier League but John Terry has been terrible this season - watched the Liverpool Chelsea game the other day and he was just embarassing. Pretty sure he's still English Captain? No doubt the Poms will pick him and he'll derail yet another English Cup run. Probably a first round exit again.

Looking forward to the Euros - without doubt the highest quality football competition on God's green Earth.

Not a dire loss but cpatain and locker room presence.

England does seem in awful shape, plus Rooney out 2 (or 3?) games at the start of the tourney.

[RaoulDuke]

I'll get a Yahoo Pick'em thread going. Should wake this place up a bit.

[Soberphobia]

Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

I'll get a Yahoo Pick'em thread going. Should wake this place up a bit.

[Jets Things]

Originally Posted by Black Death

It's a bad loss but not a dire one. You searching for hopeful holes in that incredible Spanish side?

Just on centre-halves - don't know if you've been following the Premier League but John Terry has been terrible this season - watched the Liverpool Chelsea game the other day and he was just embarassing. Pretty sure he's still English Captain? No doubt the Poms will pick him and he'll derail yet another English Cup run. Probably a first round exit again.

Looking forward to the Euros - without doubt the highest quality football competition on God's green Earth.

He doesn't want the Euros to end because his racism trial starts shortly after.

[Bonhomme Richard]

Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

I'll get a Yahoo Pick'em thread going. Should wake this place up a bit.

Definitely. That was a lot of fun.

[The Turk]

Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

I'll get a Yahoo Pick'em thread going. Should wake this place up a bit.

Originally Posted by Black Death

Originally Posted by Bonhomme Richard

Definitely. That was a lot of fun.

[frostlich]

Wow. There's still a forum here. Couldn't see it thru all the cobwebs.

[RaoulDuke]

Originally Posted by RaoulDuke

I'll get a Yahoo Pick'em thread going. Should wake this place up a bit.

Originally Posted by Black Death

Originally Posted by Bonhomme Richard

Definitely. That was a lot of fun.

Originally Posted by The Turk