Finland lose Puranan for women's finals
Monday, June 1, 2009
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Finland winger Leena Puranan has been ruled out of the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts' finals campaign after her injury in Thursday's 3-2 win against Italy in Helsinki was diagnosed as a torn cruciate knee ligament.
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Finland winger Leena Puranan has been ruled out of the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ hosts' finals campaign after suffering a serious knee injury in Thursday's friendly win against Italy in Helsinki.
'Out of words'
The 22-year-old Hammarby IF player was forced off in the second half of Finland's 3-2 victory at the Olympic Stadium and her problem has proved more serious than first thought, diagnosed as a torn cruciate ligament which requires surgery. Puranen is expected to return in six months' time meaning that Finland coach Michael Käld is deprived of a likely starter for the finals, where they meet Denmark, Ukraine and the Netherlands in Group A from 23 August. "I am out of words; I can not decribe the feeling," Puranen said. "All I can do is look forward, though that feels almost impossible at the moment."