Krčmarević taking nothing for granted
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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The loss of Nemanja Matić has given Slobodan Krčmarević a team selection headache as the Serbia coach begins planning for what he considers to be a must-win Group A contest against Belarus.
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A point against Italy seems a respectable start but Serbia coach Slobodan Krčmarević was taking nothing for granted the day after his team's opening game in Group A.
Win required
With hosts Sweden beating Belarus 5-1 in the section's other match, Krčmarević said his side now had to take maximum points against the Belarussians to maintain a realistic chance of progress. "It's quite a difficult position for us," Krčmarević told uefa.com on Wednesday. "It is not very good because Sweden won with a big result so this next round we have to win – we have to do this if we want to be in the semi-finals. The other match between Italy and Sweden is no good to us if it is a draw, it would be better if either team wins."
'Big problem'
In the 48 hours before Serbia face Belarus, Krčmarević must find a solution to the "big problem" of how to replace the injured Nemanja Matić. The left-footed midfielder broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in the Italy stalemate and returned home to Belgrade on Wednesday. Competition regulations do not permit the call-up of a replacement so instead Krčmarević will juggle his existing resources. "Matić will be difficult to replace," admitted the coach, who lost forward Filip Djordjević to an identical injury shortly before the tournament. "He was very important for our game. He is fast, has good technique, is able to play a defensive role and it is very difficult for us to replace him."
Tomić doubt
If that were not misfortune enough, Matić's substitute in Helsingborg, Nemanja Tomić, hurt his right ankle during his five minutes of action and is an early doubt for Friday's game. "I hope he will be OK," said Krčmarević. If that remains to be seen, what does seem certain is that Gojko Kačar will revert to his more usual midfield role after playing as an emergency striker against Italy. "I don't think Kačar will stay there," said the coach. "I think I will put him back in the middle which is a more natural position for him." Expect, then, to see changes in a Serbia attack where powerful CFR 1907 Cluj forward Rade Veljović may get a chance. The fact he has played only twice before for the U21s may help explain his coach's cautious tone.