EURO 2008 INFO

France may be dealt a huge blow ahead of their Euro 2008 challenge, as reports are circulating that Patrick Vieira will be ruled out of the tournament with a muscular injury. Mathieu Flamini has been recalled...

Vieira picked up a thigh problem prior to Les Bleus’ warmup match against Paraguay on Saturday evening, and was forced to sit out the 0-0 draw.

The 31-year-old received medical treatment to the injury on Saturday, however he has reportedly not responded too well, and could be out for at least a few weeks, which would almost certainly mean missing Euro 2008.

New AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini, who surprisingly was snubbed of a place in the squad, has now been called up by coach Raymond Domenech to act as the 24th man until a definite decision is made on whether to keep Vieira, which must be made by June 8. If Vieira is indeed sent home, Flamini will be his replacement.

"Flamini is arriving today at Clairefontaine (France's training camp) and is added to the 23-man squad," revealed team spokesman Yann Le Guillard.

Vieira, 31, has had an injury-hit campaign, barely setting foot on the field during the first half of the season.

However the former Arsenal man has been in excellent form recently and was set to be a key player for the French at Austria and Switzerland.

He is almost certainly out of France’s opening Group C game against Romania a week today, but the outlook is looking far dimmer than this at the moment.