Stanojević sets Serbia standard

Aleksandar Stanojević is calling on Serbia to "find power and extra motivation" as they look to carry their impressive qualifying form into the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Stanojević's charges won five of their six qualifying games en route to Ukraine – a record bettered only by Turkey among the eight teams who will take part in the finals – yet the coach recognises replicating that form against Group B opponents France, Spain and Turkey will be a tall order. In the final tournament for the second time in three seasons, Serbia are targeting a first semi-final place since they got to the last four with Montenegro four years ago.

uefa.com: What are your expectations for the tournament?

Aleksandar Stanojević: Our main problem is that we might not have our strongest squad and, in that case, I cannot promise we'll challenge for the title. To cope with this problem we must find power and additional motivation and maybe we can spring a surprise in the competition.

uefa.com: Who is missing from the team?

Stanojević: Our captain Nenad Krstičić, from Sampdoria, is still not training because of a medical problem, while 1860 München midfielder Aleksandar Ignjovski was sent off in the Elite round so I've not included him because of suspension. Finally, Schalke's defensive midfielder Predrag Stevanović has suddenly decided to miss the tournament, and unfortunately I have to accept that decision, while Crvena Zvezda's Vujadin Savic and Darko Lazovic have muscle problems and we don't know if they'll be available. Without those five players we're really a different team.

uefa.com: How have you prepared the team in Subotica?

Stanojević: We must build a team where all the players are at the same level of physical condition. At the moment they're all different as they're just starting back at their clubs. Also, this is the time for tactical preparation and our schedule has been full – we finish with a friendly against Spartak Zlatibor, who've just been promoted to the Superliga.

uefa.com: What do you think about your opponents in Ukraine?

Stanojević: I'm sure our group is the stronger of the two. We were really unlucky with the draw; France will have their strongest team which I'm not sure was the case in qualifying, and they are always hard opponents at youth levels, especially now when their players have experience at top clubs. Spain's team won the European U17 Championship in 2007 and were runners-up at the [U-17] World Cup, while we'll look at our last opponents Turkey during competition.

uefa.com: Are you optimistic for Serbia's chances?

Stanojević: No, I am realistic. Without a few players from our first team and with these opponents, our greatest ambition is a place in the semi-finals. Of course we will give everything, everybody must count on that, but as a coach I have obligation to be a realist, not just a dreamer. Being one of the best eight teams in Europe is a success already.

uefa.com: What do you personally expect from the tournament?

Stanojević: The chance to enjoy the big European scene and to test our potential. For sure, I shall be a better coach after a competition like this.