Sports

Arsenal footballer Tomas Rosicky celebrates scoring the third goal during their Premiership match at Craven Cottage in London, January 2008. Rosicky is doubtful for Euro 2008 because of recurring knee tendonitis, Czech football federation vice-president Vlastimil Kostal has said.

(AFP/File/Glyn Kirk)

The 27-year Arsenal midfielder is suffering from a painful inflammation at the back of his knee and has been out of action since the end of January.

"To be honest I'm worried for Rosicky's participation in the Euro," Kostal told the daily Sport.

"The treatment is difficult. Tomas has accepted the fact that he probably won't play for Arsenal again this season," Czech team doctor Petr Krejci added.

If Rosicky does not compete in the June 7-29 tournament coach Karel Brueckner could opt to use Reading's Marek Matejovsky, Jaroslav Plasil, of Spanish side Osasuna, or Hamburg's David Jarolim in the role of playmaker.

The newspaper also speculated on the eventual return of Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved, who retired from international competition after the end of the 2006 World Cup.