Denmark's Euro 2012 plans hit by Thomas Sorensen injury

Thomas Sorensen appears to have signed a two-and-a-half-year deal (GETTY IMAGES)

Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after suffering a back injury against Brazil at the weekend.

The Stoke stopper was substituted during the 3-1 defeat to the South Americans in Saturday's clash in Hamburg and will not now travel to Poland and Ukraine.

His place in Morten Olsen's 23-man squad has been taken by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, the son of Denmark great Peter.

Sorensen said: "Right now I am very disappointed but we need to ensure the proper treatment of the spine.

"Then I will support my comrades in the national team as best I can from home during the finals."

He later added on Twitter: "Devastated to miss the Euros due to injury. When so much energy and soul has been put into something its a tough one."

Olsen admitted it was a blow losing someone of Sorensen's experience.

"It's a heavy decision I had to make and a serious one from a sporting point of view," he told the BT newspaper.

"Thomas is a fantastic person and professional to have in the squad and his experience is exactly what we required in a tournament against some of the best teams in the world."

At 36 years of age and having won 101 caps, there will be speculation that Sorensen's international career is now at an end but the former Sunderland and Aston Villa man indicated he would carry on beyond the summer.

"I have the summer to think about it but my first thought is that I am ready to fight for the position again after the summer break," he said.

PA