Savicevic confirms bulk of squad

Yugoslavia coach Dejan Savicevic has named an 18-man squad for the EURO 2004™ qualifiers against Italy and Finland.

'A lot of doubts'
Savicevic will name four other players by Monday, after the completion of the weekend's domestic fixtures. "I have a lot of doubts regarding the squad so I prefer to wait," he said. "This time I will not be able to count on [RC] Deportivo La Coruña defender Goran Djordjevic and [FK] Partizan's Vladimir Ivic and Saša Ilic due to injuries, but all other players are fit."

Vidic chance
Nemanja Vidic of FK Crvena Zvezda has received his first call-up. "I wanted to try Vidic even at earlier occasions, but he was playing for the Under-21 squad," Savicevic said. "Although he is only 19, he is playing very well and has a significant place at his club. If he does not show his best in training, I will send him back to the U-21 team. It is most important that he plays."

Njegus returns
Sevilla FC's Zoran Njegus is back in the squad after four years' absence, along with striker Predrag Mijatovic, currently with Spanish second division Levante UD, for their opening Group 9 fixtures in Italy on 12 October and at home to Finland four days later.

Naples ambition
"We want to qualify," Savicevic said. "I respect all of our opponents, but we have the knowledge and strength to achieve qualification. The start is most important - this is clear. But we will settle for a victory over Finland at home to cover a defeat in Italy. But we are not going to Naples to defend but to play very courageously."

Yugoslavia squad
Jevric, Zilic, Njegus, Vidic, Mirkovic, Mihajlovic, Krstajic, Stefanovic, Dragutinovic, Koroman, Stankovic, Djordjevic, Trobok, Duljaj, Mijatovic, Milosevic, Kezman, Kovacevic.