Milosevic's extra motivation
Wednesday 30 March 2005
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By Aleksandar Boskovic
Having spent much of his professional career playing in the Primera División, striker Savo Milosevic will need little extra motivation to give his all for Serbia and Montenegro as they take on Spain in their 2006 FIFA World Cup Group 7 qualifier in Belgrade tonight.
Spanish ties
The 31-year-old striker is currently at CA Osasuna, having shone for Real Zaragoza, RCD Espanyol and RC Celta De Vigo, and is eager for a victory against Spain to leave his side five points clear of their main qualifying rivals and on target for a trip to Germany next summer.
Getting better
"In recent years fans booed the national team but I hope things have changed," he told uefa.com. "We are getting better results and playing better. We have given the fans a reason to get behind us. We will fight with all our might [against Spain] and we will not let the fans down."
New award
As the squad prepared for the Spain game in the Serbo-Montenegrin holiday resort of Palic, Milosevic was presented with a new award - 'the Diamond ball' - by the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro (FSSCG) for having earned more than 75 international caps.
Renewed pride
The country's most capped player with 34 goals in 89 appearances, Milosevic is certain that such awards represent a renewed focus on the national team. "It helps re-establish the reputation of the national team that which has suffered in recent years," he said.
Coming back
Having missed out on a place in the last World Cup, and indeed the last UEFA European Championship, Milosevic insists that his side are doubly determined to get to Germany. "We missed out in international competitions in the past four years and now we want to come back," he said.
Main rivals
With Lithuania, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina and San Marino looking unlikely to cause them too many problems in Group 7, Spain remain Serbia and Montenegro's biggest obstacle on the road to the finals, and Milosevic says that Ilija Petkovic's side are ready for them. "Only victory is an option," he said. "We have scored ten goals and not conceded one and we are playing at home in front of 50,000 people. I think we are the favourites and we have to prove it."
Home advantage
Having played against most of them in the Primera División, Milosevic is well aware of what Luis Aragonés's side have to offer. However, he believes that when it comes to playing in Belgrade, Spain may not be as eager to battle as the Serbo-Montenegrins. "Their performance is different at home and away," he said. "At home they are very courageous and away they are very withdrawn.
Defensive focus
"In Belgrade they will try to shut down our access to their goal rather than attacking," he added. "I am sure they are coming for a point. In the previous two away matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Lithuania, they took a point. We will try to use this to our advantage."
Strong team
Milosevic has identified goalkeeper Iker Casillas, defender Carles Puyol, midfield player David Albelda and forward Fernando Torres as Spain's most important players, but he was keen above all to emphasise the strengths of his own team. "We are holding together well," he said. "We also have excellent internationals in Dejan Stankovic, Mateja Kezman, Predrag Djordjevic, Mladen Krstajic, Goran Gavrancic, Nenad Jestrovic and Dragoslav Jevric."
Long standing
Plus, of course, Savo Milosevic. "Everyone knows me," said the striker. "I am going to be here for a long time yet."
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