Estonia start Baltic countdown
Tuesday, June 17, 2003
Article summary
Estonia national coach Arno Pijpers has named his 27-man squad for next month's Baltic Cup.
Article body
Back in favour
Pijpers has handed a surprise recall to FC TVMK Tallinn's veteran defender Toomas Kallaste, who was last capped in 1996, while Kallaste's club mate Maksim Smirnov is also included. Midfield player Smirnov has been in outstanding form in the Estonian Meistriliiga this season and appears finally to have overcome the serious knee injury he suffered in 1999.
Debut chance
Meanwhile, midfield player Konstantin Nahk from Finnish club FC Jokerit is in line for an international debut after his selection, as is the FC Levadia Maardu wing-back Dmitri Kulikov.
Missing links
However, Pijpers is without centre-back Raio Piiroja from Norwegian side Vålerenga Fotball, who was injured in last week's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying defeat by Croatia, as well as Levadia's Sergei Hohlov-Simson who is out after knee surgery.
Baltic rivals
Estonia will play Lithuania in Valga on 3 July, with Latvia and Lithuania meeting the next day in the same venue. Estonia will then face Latvia in Tallinn on 5 July. The tournament also includes Under-21 matches between the three Baltic nations.
Estonia squad
Kaalma, Poom, Pareiko, Lemsalu, U Rooba, Allas, T Kallaste, Saviauk, Stepanov, Kulikov, Enar Jääger, Anniste, Haavistu, Kristal, Leetma, Reim, Reinumäe, M Rooba, Smirnov, Nahk, Oper, Terehhov, Lindpere, Zahovaiko, Zelinski, Viikmäe, Saharov.
