Concerns for France and Spain

France strikers Louis Saha (groin) and Sidney Govou (ankle) are doubtful for Saturday's trip to Scotland, according to Les Bleus coach Raymond Domenech. "We'll see how it goes," he said. "We've still got a bit of time." France then entertain the Faroe Islands the following Wednesday.

Cardiff City FC defender Kevin McNaughton (hamstring) has pulled out of the Scotland squad for that Group B qualifier and Wednesday's trip to Ukraine. McNaughton's injury leaves manager Walter Smith short of cover at full-back having already lost Reading FC right-back Graeme Murty (hamstring) and Everton FC left-back Gary Naysmith (knee). James McFadden and David Weir are playing a warm-up match for Everton reserves on Tuesday evening in a bid to prove their fitness.

Spain will be without Real Madrid CF's José Antonio Reyes for their Group F qualifier in Sweden on Saturday as well as next Wednesday's friendly with Argentina as the forward has a minor tear in his calf muscle. Sevilla FC midfielder Antonio Puerta has been called up.

Fabio Grosso has been ruled out of the Italy squad for the Group B qualifiers against Ukraine and Georgia after injuring his left thigh during FC Internazionale Milano's 1-1 draw at Cagliari Calcio on Sunday. The FIFA World Cup winner is expected to be sidelined for two weeks.

A thigh injury also means defender Milan Biševac will not feature in Serbia's Group A matches against Belgium and Armenia. The 23-year-old has failed to respond to treatment and his recovery period will be longer than anticipated.

Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner has added defensive midfielder Martin Abrahám and winger Zdeněk Pospěch to his squad for the Group D qualifiers against San Marino and the Republic of Ireland. Uncapped Abrahám, 28, replaces Tomáš Galásek (knee) while Pospěch, 27, comes in for Libor Sionko (thigh). AC Sparta Praha midfielder Tomáš Sivok, who needs surgery to repair an injured abdominal muscle, also misses out.

Israel coach Dror Kashtan will be shorn of forwards Yaniv Katan and Omer Golan for their Group E trip to Russia on Saturday. Katan is suffering from a stomach problem and a groin strain and may require an operation. Golan also has a groin injury, while there are further concerns over the fitness of Yossi Benayoun and Tal Ben Haim after they picked up knocks in the English Premiership at the weekend.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel has drafted in Olympiacos CFP defender Christos Patsatzoglou for the Group C qualifiers against Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovina following injuries to Panagiotis Lagos and Dimitrios Papadopoulos. Fellow Olympiacos defender Michalis Kapsis was also called up but is undergoing treatment and will not be available. Midfielder Angelos Basinas was injured playing for RCD Mallorca at the weekend and is doubtful for Saturday's home encounter against Norway.

Following injury to striker Ireneusz Jeleń, Poland are facing further problems ahead of their Group A ties against Kazakhstan and Portugal. Wisła Kraków defender Arkadiusz Głowacki has been sent home after hurting a thigh muscle in training and his place will be taken by uncapped FC Krylya Sovetov Samara centre-back Krzysztof Łągiewka. Winger Jacek Krzynówek is ruled out of the Kazakhstan game on 7 October but should be fit to face Portugal four days later.

Skonto FC forward Gatis Kalninš has been called into the Latvia squad after FK Jurmala striker Andrejs Prohorenkovs was sidelined by an ankle injury. Jurijs Andrejevs's side entertain Iceland in Group F on Saturday before travelling to Northern Ireland the following Wednesday.

There are significant changes to the Belarus squad for the Group G matches against Romania and Slovenia, as Vasili Khomutovski, Vitali Kutuzov and Dmitri Molosh have all succumbed to injury. Coach Yuri Puntus has turned to Under-21 defender Pavel Plaskonny while also asking Sergei Gurenko to end his self-imposed international retirement. The FC Lokomotiv Moskva defender last played for Belarus more than a year ago after a dispute with former coach Anatoli Baidachny and is considering the offer.

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger has selected Michael Mörz and György Garics for the upcoming friendlies against Liechtenstein and Switzerland after injuries to Markus Kiesenebner and Zlatko Junuzovic. Austria travel to Liechtenstien on 6 October and face their UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland five days later.