Kezman and Cicovic for EURO 2000
December 26 - Combined Yugoslav team (Savo Milosevic and Goran Djorovic were the only national team players that played with this team) completed its tour in Spain.
Yugoslav selection after the leading of 2:0 in the first half (shooters Petkovic and Pazin) played a tie match with team of Canaries isles. In the second match in Barcelona, in front of about 45.000 supporters, our team was defeated by team of Catalonia with a result of 0:1.
Besides a tie draw and defeat, the tour in Spain is according to estimation of Vujadin Boskov a full shot, since it helped him get the real picture of the players who would have to prove themselves for their place in the national team which would participate at the European Championship next year.
Boskov praised most a goalkeeper of Spanish Las Palmas, Zeljko Cicovic.
"We got a goalkeeper for national team, and that's the most important part of Spanish tour. Zeljko Cicovic kept the goal in match versus Catalonia marvelously, as well as he has shown big quality, but it's still too early to talk about high class."
Boskov especially pointed out to the young center of Belgrade Partizan Mateja Kezman.
Mateja Kezman
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"Kezman is great player, he did his best in all 90 minutes of the match versus Catalonia. He impressed me most, besides Cicovic. I saw for the first time the center player who played defense role besides his own one. I was forced several times to tell him not to get back to our half of the playground."
Boskov stressed that all the players who participated in Spanish tour deserve to be praised and that it's still too early to write off any of the candidates. Combined teams will get their chances till April next year, and in April and May players who will go to EURO 2000 will play the matches, uncovered Boskov his plans.
Yugoslavia is the 13th
Zurich, Switzerland, December 22 - Yugoslav national football team is on the 13th place (694 points) of the ranking of the best national football teams, published by the Federation of the international football association (FIFA).
Brazil national football team is first (839 points) and this is the sixth season in a row for the world vice-champion ending as the best team in the world. Czechs are second, qualifying for the European championship 2000 with 100% success, and the current champion of the world - France is third.
Yugoslavia in group with Spain, Norway and Slovenia
Brussels, Belgium, December 12 - It was determined by drawing lots in "Auditorium" hall in Brussels that Yugoslavia would play in group "C", along with national teams of Spain, Norway and Slovenia in final tournament of European championship 2000 which is to be held in Belgium and Holland.
Yugoslav team will play its first match in town of Charleroi versus Slovenia on June 13. Five days later the "blue" team will play versus Norway in Liege, and the last match in group "C" will be played versus Spain in Bruges on July 2. The first impression of Yugoslav football experts is that Yugoslavia will play in a pretty easy group, especially if we consider the compositions of other groups, especially group "A" and group "D".
Two first ranked teams from all four groups will play in a quarter-finals, from which the cup-system starts.
It's interesting that both, Yugoslavia and Slovenia, just like Germany and England are not only in the same group in the final tournament of the European championship, but also in qualification for the World championship, which will be held in 2002.
Compositions of all groups in EURO 2000
Group "A": Germany, Romania, Portugal, England
Group "B": Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Turkey
Group "C": Spain, Norway, YUGOSLAVIA, Slovenia
Group "D": Holland, Czech Republic, France, Denmark
After The Draw
Portrait with a trophy (from left):
Kamacho (Spain), Nils Johan Semb (Norvay),
Boskov (Yugoslavia) and Katanec (Slovenia).
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Head coach of Yugoslav team, Vujadin Boskov annotated the results of the drawing of lots: "I think that we can't be unsatisfied. The quarterfinals smiles at us".
Juan Antonio Kamacho, Spanish head coach said: "I can't say anything in advance, but I have to point out that I'm satisfied with a group in which Spanish team plays".
Nils Johan Semb, Norwegian head coach said: "In group "C", somehow, all the teams are favorites! Anything can happen".
Head coach of Slovenian team, Srecko Katanec said: "We can get into equal matches and I'm sure we'll spoil somebody's plans".
The strange item is that one head coach (Boskov) will have two of his former players as rivals - he was coach to Srecko Katanec for five years in Italian Sampdoria, as well as he was coach to Kamacho, the Spanish head coach, for three years in Real Madrid.
Yugoslav and Spanish teams played 18 matches. The Yugoslav team scored five victories. The Spanish were better eight times, and five matches were ended in a tie. Yugoslavia played versus Norway 12 times, and nine times it scored a victory. The Norwegians won twice, and one match was ended in a tie. Team of both, Yugoslavia and Slovenia still haven't played one versus another.
Yugoslavia seeded third for EURO 2000 draw
Brussels, Belgium, December 10 - Yugoslavia, along with Portugal, world champions France and Italy, was named as the third group of finalists for European football championships' draw, UEFA's executive committee announced on Friday.
The 16 teams competing in EURO 2000 will be split into four
separate pots for Sunday's draw. Reigning champions Germany, co-hosts Belgium and the
Netherlands and Spain, who top the UEFA rankings list, were confirmed as the top four seeds.
Romania, Norway, Sweden and the Czech Republic comprised the second group of seeds with Yugoslavia, Portugal, world champions France and Italy ranked third. England, Turkey, Denmark and Slovenia were named as the fourth group of finalists.
Belgium will play their three opening round matches in
Brussels while the Netherlands will play two of their three
opening round games in Amsterdam.
The draw will be made at the Brussels exhibition centre on
Sunday afternoon.
UEFA had considered three options for the draw.
Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain were always
going to be seeded first and the only matter clarified on Friday
was the formation for the 12 other teams.
Yugoslavia and Russia in the same group
Tokyo, December 7 - Yugoslavia and Russia were drawn to play each other along with Switzerland, former Yugoslav republic Slovenia, Luxembourg and Faroe Islands in the group one for the European qualifying competition of the 2002 World Cup finals.
World Cup qualifying draw for Europe
Group 1: YUGOSLAVIA, Russia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Faroe Islands.
Group 2: Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, Andorra, Estonia.
Group 3: Czech Republic, Denmark, Bulgaria, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Malta.
Group 4: Sweden, Turkey, Slovakia, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Moldova.
Group 5: Norway, Ukraine, Poland, Wales, Armenia, Belarus.
Group 6: Belgium, Scotland, Croatia, Latvia, San Marino.
Group 7: Spain, Austria, Israel, Bosnia, Liechtenstein.
Group 8: Romania, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Georgia.
Group 9: Germany, England, Greece, Finland, Albania.
The nine group winners qualify for the finals in Japan and
South Korea. The nine runners-up will go into a play-offs draw.
Eight will meet in four home-and-away pairings from which the
four winners qualify for the finals. The ninth runner-up will
play off against the third-placed Asian team.
Yugoslavia among the top seeds
Tokyo, December 5 - Yugoslav national football team is among the top seeds for the Europan qualifying competition for the 2002 World Cup finals, according to the FIFA seeding list, issued today.
The other top seeds are: Spain, Romania, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech republic, Germany and Belgium.
The competition will comprise nine groups with five groups
of six teams and four groups of five teams. The nine group
winners qualify for the finals, the nine runners-up go into the
play-offs along with the Asian team which finishes third in that
zonal competition. The five winners from those play-offs qualify.
The draw for the qualifying competition for the 2002 World Cup finals
will be held in Tokyo, Tuesday, December 7.
Brazilians in Belgrade!
Soon in Belgrade? -
Rivaldo (Brazil)
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Belgrade, December 1 - Yugoslav Football Association received a fax from Brazilian "house of football" proposing a friendly match between the present second-placed team of the World Cup and the Yugoslav national team for February 16 or March 15, 2000.
"We would be very pleased to welcome the Brazilians in Belgrade", said Branko Bulatovic, secretary-general of the Yugoslav Football Association emphasizing that the only problem would be to coordinate the schedules.
The Brazilian initiative for a friendly game is another confirmation that the country of the four-time champion highly appreciates qualities of the Yugoslav players, often called around the world "European Brazilians" for their football skills. Let us remember that the Yugoslav national team had the honor to play at the farewell play of the Brazilian greatest football player of all times Pele, whereas Brazil was the first national team to play with the best Yugoslav football team after the lifting of the sports sanctions against Yugoslavia.
The last time Brazil played in Belgrade was on June 25, 1968 when it won 2-0.
Dzajic among sport legends
File photo of
Dragan Dzajic
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Vienna, November 19 - Sport legends that marked the 20th century with their achievements gathered tonight at Vienna Opera house. The occasion was election of the best among the best in the end of the century. Yugoslav football ace, former player of "Red Star" club from Belgrade and French "Bastia", now president of FC "Red Star" - Dragan Dzajic was among them.
Special jury, presided by the President of the International Olympic committee Juan Antonio Samaranch, chose "Sportsmen of the century" - 11 great sport names:
Stefi Graff (tennis), Michael Jordan (basketball), Alain Prost (moto sport), Nadia Comaneci (gymnastics), Carl Lewis (athletics), Pele (football), Dawn Fraser and Mark Spitz (swimming), Muhammad Ali (boxing), Anemarie Moser - Proell and Jean - Claude Killy (skiing).
- It was unforgettable, said Dzajic. - It was a spectacle that can't be described by words. I am glad that I represented Yugoslavia, because the most eminent sport persons from all around the world were there. I was proudly stressing out on every step that I come from Yugoslavia.
Brazilian player Pele was chosen for best football player of the century.
- Who else could be? We know everything about Pele and his knowledge. He marked this football century with his titles and play in Brazilian team - said Dragan Dzajic.
On a cocktail, after the ceremony, Dragan Dzajic met the world football legend and old friend from the days when he was a player.
- A meeting with Pele was very cordial. He asked me about the Yugoslav national team, and he was very interested to know our position on the world chart. I told him that we belonged to the European top.
The invitation to Dzajic to attend the election of the "sportsman of the century" was another great recognition to the previous best left wing of the world. This also tells that his fantastic plays have remained fresh in remembrance of football fans all around the world.
The winners of the Sports Award of the Century pose for a group photo
(Steffi Graf and Michael Jordan were absent from the ceremony)
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Dragan Dzajic was born on May 30, 1946 in Ub.
He holds the absolute record
in the number of matches
played in the Yugoslav
National Team - 85 altogether.
He was a long-lasting captain
of the National Team and
scored 23 goals in its matches.
Debuted on June 17, 1964 in Belgrade in the match against
Rumania (1:2). Played five times in FIFA and UEFA selections
and once in the World Cup - in Germany 1974. With the National
Team he won the title of the European vice-champion in 1968 in
Rome. According to many polls conducted so far, Dragan
Dzajic is the best football player Yugoslavia ever had.
He was
the player of FK Crvena zvezda (Red Star) from Belgrade and
SEC Bastia (France). In the period 1961 - 1975, his score was
590 matches, 287 goals in Crvena zvezda, five titles of the
National Champion and four trophies of the National Cup. After
two seasons in Corse he returned to Crvena zvezda where he
played in the 1977/78 season.
After his extraordinary playing
career Dzajic became the Technical director of FK Crvena
zvezda giving on that position a remarkable contribution to the
great achievements of his club, the most important of which are
the titles of the European Championship and the Winner of the
Intercontinental Cup. Dragan Dzajic will be remembered as
one of the best left wings in the world's football.
(Source: Yugoslav Football Association web site)
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November 17/18/19 - Football Unions of both England and Yugoslavia agreed to play a delayed qualification match for European under-21 Championship on Wednesday, March 29 next year in Spanish City of Barcelona. The agreement of two unions should be confirmed by UEFA, but it is almost sure that after two delays the match would be played on expected date.
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"Vojvodina" football club from Novi Sad is celebrating these days 85th anniversary. The oldest Yugoslav first league team was twice on Yugoslav top (1966 and 1989), and the biggest international success was triumph on Central European Cup in 1977. Novak Roganovic, player of "Vojvodina", won a golden medal on Olympic games in 1966, as a player of Yugoslav national team. The winners of silver Olympic medals for Yugoslav national team from "Vojvodina" club are present Yugoslav team coach Vujadin Boskov (1952), and Todor Veselinovic and Dobroslav Krstic (1956). The goalkeeper Ilija Pantelic and Dobrivoje Trivic were also members of the national team of Yugoslavia - European vice champion in 1968 in Italy. In Yugoslav national team (juniors), which won first place on world championship in 1987 in Chile, two players of "Vojvodina" played - Zoran Pijucic and Pero Skoric. The present national team players, Slavisa Jokanovic and Sinisa Mihajlovic were members of champion team of "Vojvodina", which won the Yugoslav championship for the second time, 1989.
Yugoslavia is at the moment on 13th position in the world, according to newest FIFA chart. This is, comparing to a chart issued two months ago, two places up. Brazil is still on the top of the chart, France is the second one and the third one is Czech, which played all the matches for European Championship 2000, with 100% efficiency. Yugoslavia didn't get any points in 1993 and 1994, since it didn't take part in the championship because of sanctions. After the abolishment of sanctions, starting from 101st position in the world, Yugoslavia reached the 6th position in December 1998.
Yugoslav national team player, Predrag Mijatovic, who also plays in "Fiorentina" club will soon be operated because of ankle injury, what will make him unable to play till second half of next January. He is expected to start training at that time, if everything goes well. By the end of February, he will be ready to play for this Italian club.
Geneva, Switzerland, November 11 (UEFA's Media Release) - The play-off match for the final round of the European Under-21 Championship between Yugoslavia
and England scheduled to take place as a single match at a neutral
venue on Sunday 14 November 1999, has been postponed until
further notice.
Luxembourg had offered to stage
this match but realised that for organisational and
security reasons they would not be able to do it at
such short notice.
In co-operation with the two associations
concerned, UEFA will determine a new date and
venue for this match as soon as possible.
Four-matches suspension:
Zoran Mirkovic
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GENEVA, Switzerland, November 10 - Yugoslavia and Juventus defender Zoran Mirkovic was banned for four matches by UEFA after being sent off in last
month's European championship qualifier between Yugoslavia and Croatia in Zagreb.
Mirkovic was sent off in the 42nd minute of the 2-2 draw on
October 9 for grabbing Robert Jarni as they tussled for a loose
ball.
Belgrade, November 3 - Coach Milovan Djoric announced the list of the Yugoslav players for the European Under-21 Championship play-off match between Yugoslavia and England in Luxembourg, on Sunday 14 November.
The players are:
GOALKEEPERS: Vladan Kujovic (Alst), Radisa Ilic (Partizan), Vlada Avramov (Vojvodina).
Dejan Stankovic to lead
Yugoslavs against England
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DEFENDERS: Ivan Dudic , Nenad Lalatovic and Ivan Vukomanovic (all from Red Star), Jovan Tanasijevic (Vojvodina), Nenad Dzodic (Montpellier), Milan Obradovic and Veselin Bojic (both from Obilic).
MIDFIELDERS: Vladimir Matijasevic (AEK), Radovan Krivokapic (Vojvodina), Ivica Franciskovic (Spartak), Ilija Stolica (Zemun), Nikola Lazetic (Obilic), Branko Boskovic (Red Star), Ardian Djokaj (Mallorca) and Dejan Stankovic (Lazio).
FORWARDS: Velimir Ivanovic (PAOK), Veljko Paunovic (Atletico Madrid), Mateja Kezman (Partizan), Branko Jelic (Red Star).
