France forward Ludovic Giuly faces a struggle to be fit for Euro 2004 after picking up a groin injury during Monaco's 3-0 defeat by Porto in Wednesday's Champions League final, said coach Didier Deschamps.
The Monaco captain limped off the pitch in the 23rd minute and was replaced by Croatian Dado Prso.
"It does not look very good. He felt a sharp pain in his groin," Monaco coach Deschamps told reporters. "He will undergo medical tests within days. I hope he'll be fit for the European championship."
Giuly, a key player for Monaco this season, made a decisive forward break after only three minutes of Wednesday's final when he chased down a perfect ball from Jerome Rothen.
But as he was shaping to shoot, Porto keeper Vitor Baia raced forward to clear and denied him the chance of a quick, early goal.
Playing in attack with Fernando Morientes Giuly looked capable of threatening Porto again -- and Monaco missed his menace when he limped off to be replaced by Prso.
The Croatian who hit four goals in Monaco's 8-3 win over Deportivo Coruna in November and was playing his last match for the principality club before leaving for Rangers in Scotland, was not in that kind of form on Wednesday and never hinted at causing the same sort of danger as Frenchman Giuly.
European champions France open the defence of their European crown against England on June 13 in Lisbon and also face Switzerland and Croatia in Group A.
© 2024 Rediff.com -