The Slovenia Times

Football: New Line-Up for World Cup Qualifier

Nekategorizirano


Katanec explained the mid-field would be weakened as star players Andraž Kirm and Josip Iličić will need to sit out the match because of cards received in previous matches.

However, he stressed that the team would need to make do without them and that younger players would get a chance to show their qualities, adding that they would do their best to prepare well for the match.

Yet, Katanec fears that some of the players are not physically well-prepared from their clubs, since they spent much time on the bench. He added that his job as national team manager was only to upgrade the work already done in the clubs.

Team Slovenia have gathered only three points in the first four qualifiers for next year's World Cup in Brazil, while Iceland have six. However, Slovenia have won both matches played against Iceland so far (in 1996 and 1998).

Katanec, who has brought the Slovenian national team to the World Cup in the past, started his second stint at the helm of the team in January. His first match back was a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which the team lost 0-3.

*Line-up for the 22 March qualifier against Iceland:

- goalkeepers:
Samir Handanović (Inter), Jan Oblak (Rio Ave), Jasmin Handanović (Maribor)

- defenders:
Mišo Brečko (Köln), Boštjan Cesar (Chievo), Branko Ilić (Anorthosis), Bojan Jokić (Chievo), Domink Maroh (Köln), Aleksander Rajčević (Maribor), Andraž Struna (Cracovia), Marko Šuler (Legia Varšava)

- mid-fielders:
Armin Bačinović (Hellas Verona), Goran Cvijanović (Maribor), Kevin Kampl (Salzburg), Rene Krhin (Bologna), Jasmin Kurtić (Palermo), Aleksander Radosavljević (Venlo), Aleš Mertelj (Maribor)

- strikers:
Valter Birsa (Torino), Zlatko Dedić (Bochum), Dejan Lazarević (Modena), Tim Matavž (PSV), Zlatan Ljubijankić (Omiya Ardija), Milivoje Novaković (Omiya Ardija)
 

Share:

More from Nekategorizirano