FC Bayern München expect to be without Hamit Altıntop for the rest of the season – putting a question mark against the midfielder's participation in Turkey's UEFA EURO 2008™ finals campaign.
Broken foot
Altıntop, 25, broke a metatarsal bone in his right foot during his country's friendly against Belarus on Wednesday, a 2-2 draw in Minsk. What is certain is that he faces between six and eight weeks on the sidelines after surgery today – ruling him out of Bayern's UEFA Cup quarter-final against Getafe CF and probably out of the remainder of their Bundesliga title challenge too.
Fitness race
Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said: "It is very doubtful that he will play again this term. This is a real shock, particularly as he has been in great shape recently." Altıntop has made 23 league appearances since joining Bayern from FC Schalke 04 last summer. He now has a race against time, both to add to that tally and to be eligible for Turkey in Austria and Switzerland. It is anticipated that national coach Fatih Terim will announce his finals squad after a 15-day pre-tournament training camp in Germany. Altıntop, whose twin brother Halil still plays for Schalke, has 39 caps.
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