Moscow, RUSSIA, June 1 (Reuters) - Former international Dejan
Savicevic takes on his first game in charge of Yugoslavia when
they play Russia in a World Cup group one qualifier in Moscow on
Saturday with his country's hopes in the balance.
Savicevic joined forces with former national team coach
Vujadin Boskov and football administrator Ivan Curkovic to take
charge of the team for two games following the sacking of
Milovan Djoric in May.
The Yugoslavs, beaten 1-0 by group leaders Russia five weeks
ago in Belgrade, lie fourth in their group with just five points
from four matches. They need to win on Saturday to have any
chance of clinching at least a play-off berth.
Central defender Sinisa Mihajlovic has handed the captain's
armband back to Predrag Mijatovic, recalled to the national team
after being left out by Djoric for the last two matches.
"I was in charge while he was away and it's only natural
that he should wear the captain's armband now that he is back.
Captaincy has never been a problem here," Mihajlovic said.
Mijatovic, who has not played for his club Fiorentina for
several weeks, will start against the Russians in a deeper role
behind the likely strike partnership of Savo Milosevic and
Mateja Kezman.
Victory for the Russians, who enjoy a five-point lead over
second-placed Switzerland, would all but seal them a spot in
next year's finals for the first time since 1994.
"This is the key match for us," said Russia playmaker
Alexander Mostovoi. "We know that if we beat the Yugoslavs in
Moscow we'll be on our way to Japan and South Korea."
The Russians expect to field a full-strength team.
"For the first time in a long time we don't have any injury
problems," said Russia coach Oleg Romantsev. "That's the best
news I was hoping for apart from a good result on Saturday."
The Russians welcome back Mostovoi's Celta Vigo teammate
Valery Karpin, who should give the home side a strong midfield
presence, as well as defender Yuri Nikiforov, midfielder Alexei
Smertin and striker Maxim Buznikin. All missed the last match
with various injuries.
Probable teams
RUSSIA: Ruslan Nigmatullin; Yuri Kovtun, Yuri Drozdov, Yuri
Nikiforov, Viktor Onopko, Dmitry Khokhlov, Alexei Smertin,
Valery Karpin, Yegor Titov, Alexander Mostovoi, Vladimir
Beschastnykh.
YUGOSLAVIA: Sasa Ilic; Zoran Mirkovic, Miroslav Djukic,
Sinisa Mihajlovic, Goran Djorovic; Vladimir Jugovic (Ivan
Tomic), Dejan Stankovic, Nikola Lazetic, Predrag Mijatovic; Savo
Milosevic, Mateja Kezman.
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).
