Pijpers has the pick of Flora
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Article summary
Estonia coach Arno Pijpers has included 13 FC Flora players in his squad to face Poland on 20 August.
Article body
Klavan included
Included in the party are fringe Flora players Meelis Rooba and Aleksander Saharov, as well as 17-year-old Ragnar Klavan, who joined the club from JK Tulevik Viljandi a month ago and receives a second call-up. Only he and FC TVMK Tallinn's Maksim Smirnov are retained from the experimental squad that participated in July's Baltic Cup, won by Latvia.
Reim still out
Overseas-based duo, FC Torpedo Moskva striker Andres Oper and FC København left-back Urmas Rooba, have both been left out in an agreement between the Estonian Football Association and their clubs, who face important games this month. Regular captain Martin Reim remains out with a back injury while right winger Kert Haavistu is not yet fully recovered from a knee problem.
Crucial qualifiers
The friendly marks an important warm-up for both sides ahead of decisive UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers. Estonia, who travel to Group 8 leaders Bulgaria on 6 September and Belgium on 11 October, are fourth in the section but only three points off top spot. Poland return to the Baltic to visit Latvia on 6 September and are just four points off the lead in Group 4 with three games left.
Estonia squad
Poom, Kaalma, Stepanov, Allas, Lemsalu, Saviauk, Jääger, Piiroja, Klavan, Kristal, Leetma, Rooba, Zahovaiko, Reinumäe, Lindpere, Smirnov, Zelinski, Terehhov, Viikmäe, Saharov.