First-timers join Serbia contingent

Four uncapped players have been named in Javier Clemente's 18-man Serbia squad for their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Finland in Helsinki on 2 June.

New additions
Right-back Antonio Rukavina, midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanović and forward Milan Jovanović have been called in, while goalkeeper Vlada Avramov joins the squad again, still waiting to earn his first cap. The Spanish coach is having to deal with the absence through injury of FC Dinamo Kyiv defender Marjan Marković and Trabzonspor defender Milan Stepanov. Real Racing Club Santander striker Nikola Žigić misses the game through suspension. "The match in Helsinki will be very hard for us," said Clemente. "Finland are a strong and competitive team. They still have the same expectations of qualifying as us." Serbia are third in Group A, level on points with Finland and Portugal but five adrift of section leaders Poland, with a game in hand.

Serbia squad
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojković (BV Vitesse), Vlada Avramov (FBC Treviso).

Defenders: Antonio Rukavina (FK Partizan), Mladen Krštajić (FC Schalke 04), Ivica Dragutinović (Sevilla FC), Duško Tošić (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard), Nemanja Vidić (Manchester United FC), Igor Duljaj (FC Shakhtar Donetsk).

Midfielders: Nenad Kovačević (RC Lens), Dejan Stanković (FC Internazionale Milano), Ivan Ergić (FC Basel 1983), Ognjen Koroman (FK Crvena Zvezda), Boško Janković (RCD Mallorca), Zdravko Kuzmanović (ACF Fiorentina), Miloš Krasić (PFC CSKA Moskva).

Forwards: Marko Pantelić (Hertha BSC Berlin), Milan Jovanović (R. Standard de Liège), Danko Lazović (BV Vitesse).