I’ll be back after finals, vows Puyol

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol is still hoping to reach 100 appearances for Spain despite acknowledging he is almost certain to miss this summer’s European Championships due to a knee problem.

Barca announced this week that Puyol will undergo an arthroscopy on Saturday after feeling discomfort in his right knee following last weekend’s 4-0 defeat of Espanyol and that is set to sideline the centre-back for around six weeks.

That means the 34-year-old is definitely out of Barca’s final Primera Division game at Real Betis at the weekend as well as coach Pep Guardiola’s last game in charge — the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25. His participation at Euro 2012, where Spain will face Ireland in Group C is also in doubt.