Boskovic recalled for Montenegro play-off
Reuters - Tuesday 01 November 2011, 09:00
Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic
has recalled midfielder Branko Boskovic's for the team's Euro
2012 two-legged play-off against Czech Republic later this month.
The 31-year-old Boskovic, who was sidelined for almost a
year with a serious knee injury, should add depth in the
playmaking departmernt if he makes a full recovery for the first
leg in Prague on November 11.
"Boskovic has started training with the team and we believe
he will be fit for both legs," Brnovic told the Montenegrin
Football Association on Tuesday.
"He is the team's vice-captain and his presence in the
dressing room is vital for a good atmosphere because he is an
exceptional character.
"I am very pleased with the club form of our key players and
we are confident that we can hold our own against the Czechs
although they are a top side," said Brnovic.
Defenders Marko Basa and Miodrag Dzudovic are doubtful after
suffering injuries during the weekend's games for their clubs
and Brnovic acknowledged their absence would be a blow.
"Basa is a bit of a worry because we still don't know the
extent of his injury, while Dzudovic said he should be able to
shake off a knock he got in his knee.
"It would be essential to have a full squad at our disposal
because there is no room for error against the Czechs, whose
midfielder Tomas Rosicky pulls all the strings in midfield and
they are also difficult to break down," said Brnovic.
The Montenegrins are aiming to reach their first major
tournament as an independent nation after splitting from the
state union with Serbia in 2006.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mladen Bozovic (Videoton Fehervar), Srdjan
Blazic (Panetolikos).
Defenders: Savo Pavicevic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Milan
Jovanovic (Spartak Nalchik), Luka Pejovic (Jagiellonia), Marko
Basa (Lille), Stefan Savic (Manchester City), Miodrag Dzudovic
(Spartak Nalchik), Radoslav Batak (Mogredn Budva).
Midfielders: Vladimir Bozovic (Rapid Bucharest), Nikola Drincic
(Krasnodar), Milorad Pekovic (Greuter Furth), Mitar Novakovic
(Amkar Perm), Mladen Kascelan (LKS Lodz), Simon Vukcevic
(Blackburn Rovers), Marko Cetkovic (Jageillonia), Branko
Boskovic (DC United), Elsad Zverotic (Young Boys Berne).
Forwards: Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina), Dejan Damjanovic
(Seoul), Mirko Vucinic (Juventus), Andrija Delibasic (Rayo
Vallecano), Fatos Beqiraj (Dinamo Zagreb), Radomir Djalovic
(Amkar Perm).