Prašnikar prepares Portuguese test
Monday, January 20, 2003
Article summary
Slovenia coach Bojan Prašnikar will try out his squad at this week's international tournament in Portugal.
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Winter warmers
Prašnikar will use the games against a Portugal B team and the Under-23 teams of Russia and the United States to prepare for forthcoming matches in the UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying competition. Slovenia are due to face Group 1 rivals Cyprus on 2 April before travelling to Malta four weeks later, on 30 April.
Portugal test
"After almost three months without playing, this is an opportunity to bring the squad together," Prašnikar said. Slovenia will kick off the tournament against Portugal B on 21 January before facing either Russia or the United States, depending on results.
New faces
Prašnikar has been told by Mladen Dabanovic's Belgian club that the Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan goalkeeper will only be available for the opening game. Meanwhile, NK Maribor have refused to release another custodian Marko Simeunovic, so the coach has called up two uncapped deputies in Borut Mavric of NK Olimpija Ljubljana and NK Publikum's Aleksander Seliga.
Full strength
"Because this is not an official date for international matches, we have had some problems, but I am satisfied that we will be virtually at full strength in Portugal", said Prašnikar, who replaced Srecko Katanec after last summer's FIFA World Cup. "The main objective is to gather as much information as possible about the condition of our players."
Slovenia squad
Dabanovic, Borut Mavric, Seliga, Bulajic, César, Cipot, Matej Mavric, Vugdalic, Acimovic, Karic, Koren, Pavlin, Radosavljevic, Rudonja, Sukalo, Zahovic, Zlogar, Cimirotic, Kmetec, Rakovic, Siljak.
