Serbia Under-21 coach Slobodan Krčmarević has named a full-strength squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, with five senior internationals included in the party for Sweden.
Big names
Midfielder Adem Ljajić and forward Danijel Aleksić are omitted and will instead play at the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Gojko Kačar, Ivan Obradović and Miralem Sulejmani will link up with the U21 squad on 11 June after featuring in the senior side's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Austria and the Faroe Islands on 6 and 10 June.
'Strong competition'
"It will be a great and strong competition," Krčmarević said. "The fact that reigning champions the Netherlands have not qualified and that France and Portugal are also out shows just how good the teams who have qualified will be. With that in mind, I want to be cautious about our prospects. We will take it step by step, preparing for a great new campaign at U21 level, but not making any promises."
Injury free
Serbia, who were defeated by the Netherlands in the 2007 final, will begin their training camp on 4 June in the Zlatibor mountain region in the centre of the country. Their only friendly match ahead of the tournament is against F.Y.R. Macedonia on 7 June before the squad travels to Sweden four days later. "We want the players to recuperate after a long season," said Krčmarević, who has no injury concerns. "I know they have great ambition and motivation. I respect that, but we must prepare them in the right way. One game against Macedonia will be enough, for sure. We will save ourselves for the opening game against Italy."
'Great support'
Serbia have been drawn in Group A against Italy, Belarus and Sweden and Krčmarević is expecting a strong show of support from the local population. "More than 20,000 Serbs live in and around Malmo," he said. "We expect great support from the stands and we will be playing for them."
Serbia squad
Goalkeepers: Željko Brkić (FK Vojvodina), Bojan Šaranov (OFK Beograd) and Živko Živković (FK Metalac).
Defenders: Nenad Tomović (FK Crvena Zvezda), Marko Jovanović (FK Partizan), Nemanja Pejčinović (FK Crvena Zvezda), Milan Vilotić (FK Čukarički), Jagoš Vuković (FK Rad), Rajko Brežančić (FK Partizan), Ivan Obradović (FK Partizan), Nikola Petković (Eintracht Frankfurt).
Midfielders: Ljubomir Fejsa (FK Partizan), Nemanja Tomić (FK Partizan), Milan Smiljanić (RCD Espanyol), Nemanja Matić (MFK Košice), Marko Milinković (MFK Košice), Nikola Gulan (ACF Fiorentina), Gojko Kačar (Hertha BSC Berlin), Zoran Tošić (Manchester United FC), Dušan Tadić (FK Vojvodina).
Forwards: Miralem Sulejmani (AFC Ajax), Filip Dordević (FC Nantes) and Rade Veljović (CFR 1907 Cluj).
