Bruno Vale's finals end in tears
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Article summary
Bruno Vale's UEFA European Under-21 Championship is over after the Portugal goalkeeper suffered a broken foot against Serbia and Montenegro.
Article body
Costly collision
The 23-year-old from FC Porto was injured late in the hosts' Group A defeat by Serbia and Montenegro on Thursday when he clattered into opposition midfielder Miloš Krasić. Tests at the Portugal team's Evora base have revealed a fractured bone in his right foot.
Scolari sympathy
The Portuguese Football Federation has said the injury also rules Bruno Vale out of the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany, with his place in the senior squad going to SC Braga's Paulo Santos. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "It is really unfortunate for Bruno Vale and he can count on all our support to get over this setback and have further opportunities at championship level."
Own goal
The custodian, who spent the 2005/06 season on loan at CF Estrela da Amadora, has played in both of his country's Group A games at the U21 finals, and had the misfortune of scoring an own goal in the opening-day reverse against France which was followed by a loss to Serbia and Montenegro. Agostinho Oliveira's side complete their group fixtures with a must-win tie against Germany in Guimaraes on Sunday.
