Brnović sticks with tried and tested for Czechs
Monday, October 31, 2011
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Branko Bošković, who has not played since April because of a knee injury, is a surprise inclusion in Branko Brnović's Montenegro squad for November's play-off against Czech Republic.
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Branko Bošković is a surprise inclusion after coach Branko Brnović announced Montenegro's squad for November's UEFA EURO 2012 play-off against Czech Republic.
DC United midfielder Bošković has not played a competitive match since suffering a serious knee injury in April, but Brnović is confident the 31-year-old is worth a calculated risk. "Branko is back in training and I believe he can help us," he said. "He was a regular in the team before his injury and deserves to be with us for these crucial matches."
Bošković has replaced Olympiacos FC's Petar Grbić in the only change to the squad that booked a play-off place by drawing 2-2 with Group G winners England on 7 October. Defeated 2-0 by Switzerland in a dead rubber four days later, Brnović is "absolutely certain" his side can now overcome the Czech Republic on 11 and 15 November to advance to next summer's finals. "When we are at full strength we can compete with everybody."
A shoulder injury to Marko Baša may spoil hopes of a clean bill of health but just as important, for Brnović, is halting Tomáš Rosický. "We analysed them and noticed that Rosický is a real leader in midfield. If we neutralise him we have more chance. Generally speaking the Czech team are very well organised, getting players behind ball. They will be two tight games." The first leg is in Prague.
Goalkeepers: Mladen Božović (Videoton FC), Srđan Blažić (Panetolikos GFS).
Defenders: Marko Baša (LOSC Lille Métropole), Milan Jovanović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Stefan Savić (Manchester City FC), Radoslav Batak (FK Mogren), Savo Pavičević (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Miodrag Džudović (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Luka Pejović (Jagiellonia Białystok).
Midfielders: Elsad Zverotić (BSC Young Boys), Milorad Peković (SpVgg Greuther Fürth), Mitar Novaković (FC Amkar Perm), Vladimir Božović (FC Rapid Bucureşti), Mladen Kašćelan (ŁKS Łódź), Nikola Drinčić (FC Krasnodar), Marko Ćetković (Jagiellonia Białystok), Simon Vukčević (Blackburn Rovers FC), Branko Bošković (DC United).
Forwards: Mirko Vučinić (Juventus), Radomir Djalović (FC Amkar Perm), Andrija Delibašić (Rayo Vallecano de Madrid), Stevan Jovetić (ACF Fiorentina), Dejan Damjanović (FC Seoul), Fatos Beqiraj (GNK Dinamo Zagreb).
