Portugal Euro 2012: Postiga out of Euro’s

Striker Helder Postiga will miss the rest of Euro 2012 with a thigh strain sustained in the quarter-final win over the Czech Republic.

Postiga, Portugal’s first-choice centre-forward, was carried off after pulling up late in the first half during the Selecção’s 1-0 quarter-final victory over the Czech Republic.

The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed that Postiga suffered “a muscle injury to the back of the right thigh” following a scan on the injury.

Postiga had started all four of Portugal’s matches in Poland and Ukraine, scoring once in the 3-2 Group B victory over Denmark, entering the record books joining the small club of players who have scored at three different European Championship finals.

The Real Zaragoza striker was originally due to just sit out the semi-final against Spain in Donetsk on Wednesday but has now been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

Although team doctor Henrique Jones will still try to help Postiga recover if Portugal make it to the Euro 2012 final. “We are going to do all we can to ensure we get him back for the final”, he said.

Postiga is Portugal’s first injury in the tournament. He is expected to be replaced by Hugo Almeida or young striker Nelson Oliveira.