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Injured Nihat heads for home

Society Materials 22 June 2008 22:18 (UTC +04:00)

Turkey striker Nihat Kahveci has left the team's base after it was confirmed he will miss the rest of Euro 2008, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) said Sunday.

Nihat sustained a thigh injury in the quarter-final win on penalties against Croatia.

He had already been ruled out of Turkey's semi-final against Germany in Basle on Wednesday, but it has now been confirmed he will play no further part in the tournament.

He has now left Turkey's base in Vienna to return to Spain where he plays for Villarreal.

"Before going, he sent his best wishes to the squad and wished them victory against Germany," the TFF website said.

Nihat injured his thigh three minutes from the end of the game in Friday's penalty shoot-out win over Croatia in Vienna.

The loss of Nihat, who scored two late goals to give Turkey a ramatic 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic in their final group match, is a blow to coach Fatih Terim who is struggling to get a side together for Wednesday's semi-final.

Turkey have currently nine players unavailable for the semi-final as a result of injury or suspension.

Terim will not be allowed to call up another player despite the heavily depleted Euro squad, Europe9s governing body UEFA said on Sunday, dpa reported.

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