Serbia forced to ring the changes

Serbia coach Slobodan Krčmarević has called up seven new faces for the play-off against Denmark for a place in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Key absentees
Serbia, beaten finalists in 2007 in the Netherlands, are bidding to reach the final tournament for the fourth successive time. However, Krčmarević's cause has been complicated by injuries to key players Stefan Babović and Miralem Sulejmani, while three of his regulars – left-back Ivan Obradović, left-winger Zoran Tošić and midfielder Gojko Kačar – have been named in the senior Serbia squad. In come goalkeeper Nenad Filipović, defender Tomislav Pajović, midfielders Miloš Adamović, Radosav Petrović, Nemanja Matić and Marko Milinković, and forward Rade Veljović. Krčmarević is convinced his new charges will be able to ensure Serbia's progress. "I have analysed some of Denmark's games and I know what a hard job awaits us, but I have utmost confidence in my squad and I believe we will succeed," he said. Denmark host the first leg in Aalborg on 11 October before the return match in Belgrade four days later.

Serbia squad
Goalkeepers: Bojan Šaranov (OFK Beograd), Željko Brkić (FK Vojvodina), Nenad Filipović (FC Fehérvár).

Defenders: Nikola Petković (FK Crvena Zvezda), Marko Jovanović (FK Partizan), Milan Vilotić (FK Čukarički), Nenad Tomović (FK Crvena Zvezda), Nemanja Pejčinović (FK Rad), Tomislav Pajović (FK Čukarički).

Midfielders: Miloš Adamović (OFK Beograd), Vladimir Bogdanović (FK Crvena Zvezda), Milan Smiljanić (RCD Espanyol), Nikola Gulan (ACF Fiorentina), Predrag Pavlović (FK Napredak), Ljubomir Fejsa (FK Partizan), Dušan Tadić (FK Vojvodina), Radosav Petrović (FK Partizan), Nemanja Matić (MFK Košice), Marko Milinković (MFK Košice).

Forwards: Filip Djordjević (FC Nantes Atlantique), Rade Veljović (FK Voždovac), Milan Perić (FK Partizan).