Slovenia welcome back Siljak

By Martin Pavčnik

Ermin Siljak has returned to the Slovenia squad for the forthcoming games against Germany and Belarus.

Back in favour
Coach Branko Oblak has recalled the 31-year-old forward, who was the top scorer in Slovenia's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign, after he signed for Belgian club R. Excelsior Mouscron following a spell in Chinese football.

Old name
Oblak has also brought back Fabijan Cipot, a favourite of his predecessor Bojan Prašnikar, who plays in Qatar with Al-Arabi, along with Robert Koren from Norway's Lillestrøm SK, and Suad Filekovic, who recently left Croatia's HNK Hajduk Split for Greek side Ergotelis FC.

Busy schedule
Slovenia face 2006 FIFA World Cup hosts Germany in a friendly in Celje on 26 March, before playing their home Group 5 qualifier against Belarus at the same Skalna Klet stadium four days later.

Fighting chance
"We have seven points now - I hope we will have more after the Belarus match," said Oblak, whose side trail group leaders Italy by two points, and Norway on goal difference. "If we had fewer points, I would have given the young players a chance to prepare them for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers, but I cannot do that now."

Slovenia squad
Mavric (SV Greuther Fürth), Handanovic (Udinese Calcio), Cesar (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Cipot (Al-Arabi), Ilic (NK Domžale), Knavs (VfL Bochum 1848), Lazic (NK Publikum), Mavric (Molde FK), Acimovic (LOSC Lille Métropole), Ceh (Club Brugge KV), Filekovic (Ergotelis FC), Komac (NK Gorica), Koren (Lillestrøm SK), Pokorn (Hapoel Nazareth FC), Simon Seslar (NK Publikum), Cimirotic (NK Publikum), Rodic (Portsmouth FC), Siljak (R. Excelsior Mouscron).