Zahovic back in the frame

Sent home
Prašnikar today called up Zahovic - sent home from the FIFA World Cup after falling out with the previous coach, Srecko Katanec - as part of his 21-man squad for the friendly against Italy on 21 August.

Zahovic fined
Zahovic, who has 65 caps to his name, was fined €15,000 by the Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) this week for his undisciplined behaviour during the opening match against Spain - one of five players who received fines totalling €23,000.

Acimovic pays for protest
Tottenham Hotspur FC midfield player Milenko Acimovic will have to pay €2,000 for protesting at his substitution in the match against South Africa. Amir Karic, Saso Gajser and Zoran Pavlovic must pay the same sum for ill discipline during training. Pavlovic is the only one of the five missing from the squad for the match against Italy, while Milan Rudonja also misses out.

First time
It will be Prašnikar's first match in charge after replacing Katanec who quit after the World Cup, and included for the first time are Suad Filekovic, Matjaz Lunder, Aleksandar Radosavljevic and Goran Sukalo.

Malta come first
Slovenia are preparing for their EURO 2004™ qualifying campaign which begins against Malta on 7 September. Their other opponents in Group 1 are against France, Israel and Cyprus.

Slovenia squad
Dabanovic, Simeunovic, Bulajic, Cipot, Knavs, Sankovic, Vugdalic, Acimovic, Ceh, Filekovic, Gajser, Karic, Lunder, Pavlin, Radosavljevic, Sukalo, Zahovic, Zlogar, Cimerotic, Rakovic, Siljak.