Hungary coach Matthaeus axes Babos
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Hungary coach Lothar Matthaeus has dropped Feyenoord goalkeeper Gabor Babos from his squad for the World Cup Group Eight qualifiers against Croatia and Iceland.
"Babos told me that he would only join the squad if he is the number one between the posts. Now, he will not be number two or three as long as I am the coach, unless he apologises to me and his teammates," said Matthaeus.
The German has also handed a first international call-up to Ferencvaros defender Zoltan Balog.
Hungary begin their qualifying campaign against Croatia on Saturday in Zagreb before entertaining Iceland next Wednesday in Budapest.
Russia without key trio
Meanwhile, Russia have lost three key players to injuries for Saturday's World Cup qualifier at home to Slovakia.
First-choice goalkeeper Sergei Ovchinnikov, his Lokomotiv Moscow team mate, striker Dmitry Sychev, and Zenit St Petersburg winger Vladimir Bystrov will miss the European Group Three opener in Moscow.
"All three are key players on our team and their absence is a serious blow," Russia coach Georgy Yartsev told a news conference.
The three players, who were part of Russia's Euro 2004 squad, sustained various injuries over the weekend.
Yartsev has called up only 18-year-old keeper Igor Akinfeyev as a back up to Vyacheslav Malafeyev.
"I have decided against calling any more players, so we have only 17 instead of 19 players on the squad now," Yartsev said.
Also missing are long-time captain Viktor Onopko and CSKA Moscow central defender Sergei Ignashevich, who are both still not fully recovered from injuries.
Scottish three forced out
Scotland will be without injured goalkeeper David Marshall, midfielder Richard Hughes and defender Russell Anderson for their friendly international against Spain in Valencia on Friday.
Manager Berti Vogts is hopeful, however, that the trio will become available again for Scotland's opening 2006 World Cup Group Five qualifier against Slovenia in Glasgow on September 8.
Celtic's 19-year-old goalkeeper Marshall has a thigh strain while Aberdeen defender Russell Anderson misses out with a knee injury and Portsmouth midfielder Hughes is also out as he recovers from a calf injury.
A 22-man squad flew to Spain on Tuesday and Vogts was unlikely to draft in replacements for the injured trio.
Scotland are bidding to reach their first World Cup finals since France in 1998 from a group that also contains Italy, Norway, Belarus and Moldova.
Swiss call up Haeberli and Rey
Switzerland have named uncapped striker Thomas Haeberli in their squad to face the Faroe Islands and Ireland in their Group Four World Cup qualifiers.
Young Boys forward Haeberli, 30, has earned the call-up after scoring four times at the start of the Swiss season, with Neuchatel's Alexander Rey, 31, also joining him in the squad for the qualifiers on September 4 and September 8 in Basel.
Rey -- replacing the suspended Alexander Frei -- who sits out both qualifiers as a result of his ban for spitting at England's Steven Gerrard during Euro 2004 -- has not played for Switzerland since April 2001.
Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn delayed naming his squad until holding talks with Stephane Chapuisat at the weekend, but the veteran forward decided not to play in the two qualifiers having retired after Euro 2004.
Under-21 international Davide Chiumiento also decided against making himself available as he continues to consider whether to commit his international future to Switzerland or Italy, where he plays for Juventus.
Kuhn is without injured defender Bruno Berner because of an abductor problem and has named Auxerre's Stephane Grichting as his replacement.
Nigeria are hit by injuries
In Africa, striker Obafemi Martins and defender Joseph Yobo have both been ruled out of Nigeria's World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe through injury.
Defender George Abbey is also injured and will not make the trip to Harare for Sunday's African zone Group Four qualifier.
"Coach Christian Chukwu has already invited Chidi Ordiah and Obinna Nwaneri to the squad but he may have to name a few more to make up," said a spokesman.
Midfielder Wilson Oruma has asked to be dropped from the squad for personal reasons, though Nigerian newspapers reported that Oruma opted out because of a row with the NFA over expenses.
Nigeria lead Zimbabwe by a point in a group that also includes Rwanda, Algeria and Gabon. Only the top team qualifies for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Romania include Paraschiv
Uncapped Steaua Bucharest midfielder Sorin Paraschiv has been called up to the Romania squad on as cover for Florin Soava, for the World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Andorra.
Spartak Moscow's Soava injured his thigh muscle during a training session and will need at least a couple of days to recover.
Soava's probable absence for Saturday's Group One match against Macedonia is a fresh blow for Romania, who are already without captain Cristian Chivu and Steaua pair Mirel Radoi and Sorin Ghionea because of injury.
Romania, who won their opening match against Finland, play Andorra away on September 8.
The group also includes the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Armenia.
