Jugovic and Kovacevic Miss Out
Friday 10th November 2000
Internazionale midfielder Vladimir Jugovic and Juventus striker Darko
Kovacevic were both surprise ommissions from Ilija Petkovic's Yugoslavia
squad to face Romania in Bucharest next week.
Jugovic's place goes to the young Partizan Belgrade midfielder Igor Duljaj,
as Petkovic looks to rejuvenate his squad.
Kovacevic's absence, though, is more controversial, as it appears to
surround a problem with his passport, although the exact details remain
unclear. Red Star Belgrade forward Goran Drulic, who scored in the Uefa Cup
against Celta Vigo on Thursday, steps in.
Many have expressed surprise at the inclusion of the 31-year-old Pedrag
Mijatovic, who has been woefully out of form of late for Fiorentina.
Not only does his selection seem to go against Petkovic's commitment to
youth, but it also means no place in the squad for Excelsior Mouscron
striker Nenad Jestrovic, who has banged in an astonishing 12 goals in ten
games this season.
Petkovic also resisted the temptation to pick his son, Dusan Petkovic, who
has been winning rave reviews for OFK Belgrade this season.
