Problems continued to confront Belgian manager Georges Leekens right up to the moment he boarded a plane in Brussels yesterday afternoon for a flight to Dublin.
Already committed to replacing three senior players, Philippe Albert, Enzo Scifo and Luis Oliveira, Leekens lost two more yesterday during the squad's last training session before travelling to Ireland.
Lorenzo Staelens, a converted midfielder who had been elevated to a role of some significance in their defensive strategy post-Albert, is himself ruled out because of a groin strain.
And to cap a singularly trying day for Leekens, Gilles De Bilde suffered a recurrence of a thigh problem and instead of starting the game must now console himself with a seat on the bench.
Eric Van Meir will take over as sweeper from Staelens with Mike Verstrarten, who only got back into the squad when Albert announced his retirement from international football last Thursday, partnering the Yugoslav Goran Vidovic at centre back.
"The loss of two more established players is serious but I'd rather select players who are at the peak of fitness rather than gamble on those who might find themselves restricted by slight injuries," he said.
"Injuries such as these and the problems they cause are routine in football and I prefer to concentrate on the people who are fit and ready to play, rather than regret the loss of those who failed to make it."
In breaking with tradition and announcing his team a full 48 hours before the game, he said: "It's important that players know their roles and have an opportunity of working them through in their minds. There is nothing to be gained by waiting until the last minute before telling them."
Yet, despite the troubles crowding around him, some of the manager's decisions are surprising. On his own admission, Nico Van Kerckhoven, chosen at left wing back, has not been playing well of late and the Udinese player, Regis Genaux, gets in on the opposite flank ahead of Eric Deflandre.
Michael Goossens, the Schalke 04 player, who has won the majority of his seven caps as a substitute, is given the job of replacing de Bilde. But clearly De Bilde's clubmate at PSV Eindhoven, Luc Nilis, will now carry the bulk of the visitors' scoring hopes.
Belgium: F De Wilde (Sporting Lisbon), R Genaux (Udinese), E Van Meir (Lierse), G Vidovic (Mouscron), M Verstrarten (Gorminal Ekeran), D Boffin (FC Metz), F Van der Elst (Club Bruges), M Wilmots (Schalke 04), N Van Kerckhoven (Lierse), M Goossens (Schalke 04), L Nilis (PSV Eindhoven).
Ukraine coach Jozhef Sabo bolstered his defence with a handful of late call-ups yesterday, to suggest he will opt for caution in tomorrow's World Cup play-off first leg against Croatia.
The last-minute arrival of Dynamo Kiev defenders Olexander Holovko and Andriy Gusin, both of whom were involved in last week's Champions League thrashing of Barcelona, raises the possibility of Sabo fielding a side entirely drawn from that club. Dynamo now have 11 representatives in the 23-man squad for Zagreb.
The only question mark over first-choice players is a hamstring injury scare for Dynamo right-back Oleh Luzhny.
