Soccer:Barcelona and Spain's Carles Puyol is out of Euro 2012 following surgery to his right knee, a process that will require six weeks rehabilitation according to his club's doctors.
The defender underwent an operation yesterday, an arthroscopic procedure to clean up joint tissue to his right knee. Doctor Ricard Pruna explained: “Puyol’s objective is to be in optimal condition for the pre-season.” Doctor Ramon Cugat added: “If everything goes well, we’ll have Carles Puyol for many years.”
Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland squad are in the same pool for Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine as the European and World champions Spain.
Meanwhile Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola bowed out of the Primera Division by insisting ‘life goes on.’ Guardiola’s last league game in charge of the Catalan giants following a four-year spell in which the club have won three league titles and two Champions League crowns ended in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis last night.
“La Liga existed before I came and it will continue to exist without me,” Guardiola, whose final game in charge will be the Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25th, said on the club’s official website.
Barca’s Dani Alves was sent off against Betis and the Brazilian full-back has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp. But Guardiola feels the club need to keep hold of him, adding: “Questions on a player’s future don’t depend on me, but from my point of view, Alves is irreplaceable. He’s been fundamental for Barca.”
Goalkeeper Victor Valdes is confident the team will be back to their best next year under new boss Tito Vilanova after a season in which they have lost their league and Champions League crowns. “We hope to win the cup. This season two important titles have slipped away, but we’ll be back as strong as ever next year.”
