Team coach Slaviša Stojanović announced a changed roster on Monday, explaining he had invited midfielders Goran Cvijanović (NK Maribor) and Kevin Kamp (Salzburg) and forwards Džengis Čavušević (St. Gallen) and Robert Berić (NK Maribor) to join the team.

According to Stojanović, Čavušević and Berić are filling in for injured Valter Birsa (Torino) and the not fully fit Zlatan Ljubijankić (Omiya Ardija, Japan).

Stojanović was especially happy to announce the return of standard goal keeper Samir Handanović (Inter), who was out with knee injury against Switzerland and Norway.

"These two matches are decisive for us, of key importance for our approach in the future...While we do not feel additional pressure because we need to win, it is a fact that points need to be collected and that we cannot be happy with the start of the qualifying campaign," he told the press as the team began with training in Ptuj.

Commenting on Cyprus, which Slovenia will play in Maribor, he said it had a few foreign players and a lot of quality, especially when it comes to counterattacks.

Slovenia play the mentioned teams as well as Iceland in group E and are presently in last place.