Sweden v England

Eriksson’s England squad has a unfamiliar look to it following the omissions of several players from the top leading Premiership clubs. First team regulars Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Micheal Owen are all absent from the squad. Captain David Beckham has pulled out of the squad with an ankle injury and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard will lead the side in his absence.

Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson is one of several players given an opportunity to claim a place in the squad for Euro 2004 along with Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jlloyd Samuel, Jermain Defoe and the Norwich City keeper, Robert Green.

Everton’s Wayne Rooney is an injury concern after picking up an ankle injury in the weekend game against Middlesbrough but theyoungster is expected to start.

Southampton’s Michael Svensson is out of the Swedish squad after picking up a calf injury in the 1-0 win over Tottenham. His team-mate, Anders Svensson, making his comeback from injury, came on as a late substitute in the game is hoping to start in the game against England.

“At first, I was disappointed to not get to play from the start but my injury feels good now,’ he said.

The match has given me new confidence, I feel I deserve to play from the start now.”

“The injury is gone. I can and want to play 90 minutes on Wednesday.”

Arsenal’s Freddie Ljungberg has joined up with the squad but he will not be involved tonight.

Rep of Ireland v Czech Republic

West Brom keeper Joe Murphy, Hearts Alan Maybury, Celtic’s Liam Millar, Nottingham Forest’s John Thompson and Tottenham’s Stephen Kelly have been called up as late replacements.

Mark Kinsella has also been recalled, his recent transfer from Aston villa to West Brom has seen him start eight of the last ten games for the promotion-chasing first division side.

Liverpool’s Milan Baros is also expected to continue his return from injury lay-off by starting for the Czech Republic. Vladmir Smicer and Portsmouth’s ex-red Patrick Berger are both injured.

Holland v France

Manchester United striker Louis Saha could keep his place in the starting line-up after scoring on his international debut in France’s 2-0 victory over Belgium.

The Arsenal duo, Robert Pires (achilles) and Patrick Vieira (knee) together with Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane (groin strain) are all out of France’s squad.

Fulham’s midfielder Steed Malbranque and Liverpool’s Bruno Cheyro have been given late call ups by coach Jacques Santini.

Thierry Henry has joined up with the rest of the squad and will start.

Holland, who only made it to Euro 2004 through the play-offs, beating Scotland 6-1 on aggregate, are without Milan’s Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam and Frank De Boer through injury.

Chelsea’s Mario Melchiot has earned a recall along with Barcelona’s Michael Reiziger and Manchester City’s Paul Bosvelt. Chelsea striker, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who has scored 9 goals in 23 international appearances, was not included in Dick Advocaat’s squad and now seems unlikely to end his international career at Euro 2004.

PSV Eninhoven’s Arjen Robben, who will be joining Chelsea at the end of this season, scored the only goal in Holland’s last match a 1-0 victory over the USA.

Italy v Portugal

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Solari has said that he hopes to use the match to finalise his striking options for the finals.

“I wanted to call three strikers up and see Pauleta, Nuno Gomes and Postiga playing – I hope this will help me decide if I will call two or three of them for the final squad.”

Italy are without goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, defenders Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta and Nicola Legrottaglie.

The forward trio of Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi and Antonio Cassano are also injured.

Juventus pair Marco Di Vaio and Fabrizio Miccoli have been called up to give Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni more striking options.

Spain v Denmark

Lovenkrands came to an agreement with coach Morton Olsen and will now rest for the week.

“I have talked to Morton Olsen and we are in full agreements that I shall only play for the national team when I am 100 percent fit,” said Lovenkrands.

Inter’s Thomas Helveg has pulled out of the squad with injury and has been replaced by 31-year-old Bochum defender Soren Colding who makes his first Denmark squad for four years.

Span’s coach Inaki Saez has defensive problems after Barcelona defender Carles Puyol (stomach) and Real Madrid defender Ivan Helguera (groin) withdrew from the squad with injuries.

Deportivo La Coruna’s Joan Capdevila and Cesar have been called up as late replacements.