Injuries disrupt Spain's playoff preparations

Spain's preparations for their Euro 2004 playoff against Norway have been disrupted by injury worries over winger Joaquin and defender Ivan Helguera.

Team medical staff decided that Joaquin would remain with the squad despite pulling out of training on Tuesday because of pain in his abdomen, while Helguera has been forced to rest because of the recurrence of a sciatic nerve problem.

Both players are doubtful for the first leg of the playoff in Valencia on Saturday.

Chief of medical staff Genaro Borras said Joaquin's injury was not serious, but that it was difficult to judge whether or not he would be fit to play.

"These sort of groin injuries are always unpredictable," he told Radio Sevilla on Tuesday. "But there is no reason why he should leave the training camp."

The injury prevented the Real Betis midfielder from playing for his club in last Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Barcelona.

Borras said he was also concerned by Helguera's problem.

"Helguera's injury has been causing him pain for the last two or three weeks, although he has shown that he has been able to play with it," Borras told Spanish state television.

"I felt the pain again after the game against Sevilla at the weekend and will try and give it a rest while the others are training this (Tuesday) afternoon," Helguera said.

Spain, who finished as runners-up to Greece in Group Six of the qualifying phase for next year's tournament in Portugal, play the second leg against Norway in Oslo on November 19.