Italian referee Pierluigi Collina will be in charge of Turkey's decisive Euro 2004 qualifier against England this weekend, UEFA said on Monday.

Dane Kim Milton Nielsen had been due to handle Saturday's Group Seven game in Istanbul, but has been ruled out after picking up a foot injury in a Danish league game at the weekend.

Collina is rated by many in the game as the world's best referee and officiated at Brazil's World Cup final victory over Germany last year in Yokohama.

Nielsen is remembered by England fans for having sent off David Beckham, now England's captain, in their 1998 World Cup defeat by Argentina in France.

England are top of Group Seven and need only a draw to qualify for next year's tournament in Portugal, and consign their hosts to the playoffs in November.