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FOOTBALL

Serbians preparing to go it alone

story.jevric.gi.jpg
Jevric is one of only two Montenegrins in the Cup squad.

SPECIAL REPORT

BELGRADE, Serbia and Montenegro -- Serbia's football authorities are ready to part company with their Montenegrin counterparts after the World Cup finals.

They will head into Euro 2008 qualifying on their own, following the political split between the two republics.

Serbia and Montenegro Football Association (FSSCG) chief Tomislav Karadzic told daily Sportski Zurnal the body would cease to exist after the tournament in Germany.

Serbia would then carry on by itself.

"We were prepared for any outcome of the Montenegrin independence referendum and we have a precisely defined plan for the upcoming period," he said.

Speaking at the team's training camp in Palic, northern Serbia, Karadzic added: "The unified bodies will be dissolved on July 28 and the associations of Serbia on one side and Montenegro on the other will take over in their respective countries."

Montenegro voted for independence from the state union with Serbia on Sunday but they will compete as a unified team in the June 9-July 9 tournament in Germany.

Goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric and striker Mirko Vucinic are the only two Montenegrin players in the 23-man World Cup squad.

Karadzic said Serbia's participation in the Euro 2008 qualifying was a formality because it is the legal successor of the state union with Montenegro, a tiny Adriatic republic with a population of 650,000.

"Serbia has inherited the state union's continuity and hence we have no problems with FIFA and UEFA. The Montenegrins will have to apply for membership and the process may take a while," he said.

"Our own separation will be a lot shorter and simpler because we foresaw the pro-independence camp in Montenegro might win."

Montenegro's football chief Dejan Savicevic, who strongly supported the drive for independence, told Reuters the team would use the 2008 qualifying timetable for friendly matches in a bid to build a side capable of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Unified team

He also said he would support the unified team in the World Cup and Serbia in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

"Serbia is closest to my heart after my native Montenegro and down here we will all cheer for the unified team in Germany and for the Serbs in the Euro 2008 qualifiers," he said.

Veteran striker Savo Milosevic said both he and Jevric had a hard time dealing with the outcome.

"I spoke to Jevric and he didn't take (the outcome) lightly. He is very sad and so am I, but we know why we are here and I am sure he will get over it the right way," he said.

"I wish I could congratulate the winning camp in Montenegro but I just can't because I was an advocate of the unified state. Of course I will gracefully accept the majority vote but I hoped for a different outcome."

In the World Cup finals, Serbia and Montenegro have been drawn in Group C alongside Argentina, the Netherlands and African Nations Cup finalists Ivory Coast.

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