Serbia aim for next stage

Serbia are keen to make the most of home advantage when Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Sweden visit in UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round Group 4.

Close group
Dejan Djurdjević's side were pipped to first place by Israel in qualifying round Group 4 but have since beaten Norway 1-0 and 2-0 and secured a 0-0 draw against F.Y.R. Macedonia. Having named a full-strength squad, the Serbia coach said: "We used these friendlies in the best way. But, when you work with 17-year-olds you can not be precise in assessing their condition and potential. They proved that they deserved places in our team and played very well, especially in defence, and we can be optimistic. But, our opponents are also very good and all of those teams can hope for first place."

Home advantage
Only one team are at home, though. "That is an additional motivation and help and we must use it," Djurdjević said. "I want to reduce the pressure on them, because so many people think that we are favourites as we are at home. We must concentrate, believe in ourselves and try to earn a place in the last eight. In the past, we have had success at U19 and U21 level' it is time for a big step in this youth category. We were also hosts in the qualifying round so we have experience from that."

Slovakia aim
While Serbia and Montenegro qualified in 2006, Slovakia have not made it to the finals since the switch from U16 classification in 2001/02, but three wins and eleven unanswered goals in the first stage has given coach Igor Bôbik hope, despite not picking up an Elite round point last season. „We have prepared well but like before last year, I missed was without our foreign-based players," he said. "They will join to us only Friday this week, because they need to play for their club."

Foreign legion
Those players based outside Slovakia are Manchester City FC duo Róbert Mak and Igor Paldan, Chelsea FC's Milan Lalkovič, Southampton FC goalkeeper Andrej Pernecký, Emil Le Giang of 1. FC Nurnberg and AC Sparta Praha's Erik Ujlaky and Michal Čerňan. Mak scored four goals in the qualifying round, while without that septet Slovakia lost 5-3 and 4-2 to Slovenia in Serbia. Sweden were fortunate to get through as one of the two best third-placed teams in a Fair Play tie break, while the Czech Republic, runners-up in 2006, were pipped by Italy in their qualifying round pool.