Today at Euro 2008: Podolski and Frings doubtful for quarter-final against Portugal

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German players Lukas Podolski and Torsten Frings are both doubtful for tomorrow's quarter-final against Portugal.

Podolski took a knock to his calf and Frings suffered a fractured rib in Monday's 1-0 win over Austria in Group B. Frings complained of discomfort and a subsequent X-ray at a hospital in Lugano yesterday revealed a broken rib. The coach Joachim Löw will discover today whether he will be allowed on the touchline in Basle tomorrow. Löw was sent off by referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez on Monday along with his Austrian counterpart Josef Hickersberger.

Player to watch: Dmitri Torbinski

It was the arrival, as substitute, of the Lokomotiv Moscow winger that transformed the game in Moscow when Russia rallied to defeat England in qualifying. Given a roving role behind centre-forward Roman Pavlyuchenko, the 24-year-old similarly unhinged the Greek defence in Salzburg. The watching Gérard Houllier compared Torbinski's movement to former Liverpool forward Vladimir Smicer and there was something of the Czech in his darting runs and positioning. He is a late developer, partly due to injuries, so tonight's decisive Group D tie with Sweden will be only his 87th professional match, 13 of them for Russia.

Familiar faces

Anders Svensson (Russia v Sweden)

Attacking midfielder whose time at Southampton between 2001 and 2005 included FA Cup final appearance and 127 league games. The highlight of his international career came in 2002 when he scored a spectacular free-kick against Argentina in the World Cup that ensured Sweden's progress and condemned their opponents to an ignominious exit.

Quote of the day

"Perhaps the European Championship came two years too early for us... but we have some very promising players and a bright future." Friedrich Stickler, president of the Austrian Federation.