Russia hit by Shishkin blow

Lokomotiv Moscow defender Roman Shishkin has pulled out of Russia's squad for this summer's European Championship due to a stomach condition.

Shishkin has been unable to train for the last two days after suffering what was described on the website of the Russian Football Association as an "acute problem of the gastrointestinal tract".

Coach Dick Advocaat told rfs.ru: "This morning, Roman Shishkin left the team because he still has stomach problems, and the medical prognosis was pessimistic on it."

Shishkin will remain in hospital for further observation but Advocaat ruled out calling up a replacement player.

"No," he said. "We immediately summoned 26 players, including one extra defender, given the possibility that someone could fall from the team due to injuries."

Another defender, CSKA Moscow's Vasiliy Berezutskiy, had already withdrawn from that original party and Advocaat is close to unveiling his final squad.

The Dutchman said: "Tomorrow I will name the final Russia squad for Euro 2012 out of 23 players and one player will go home.

"I think that the best players know in advance which of them will go to the European Championship."