Yugoslavia - Savicevic: "I still hope to play Sunday against Iran"

11.06.98 21h30 CET

News from "La Charpinière" in Saint Galmier (near SAINT-ETIENNE), Thursday 11 June

 

Dejan SAVICEVIC (8)

Dejan SAVICEVIC, forward for YUGOSLAVIA, answered journalists' questions at a press conference held today, Thursday 11 June, at the "La Charpinière" hotel in Saint Galmier. Still uncertain about the match against IRAN on Sunday 14 June at the stade Geoffroy-Guichard in SAINT-ETIENNE, he said: "I've still got problems with the ligaments in my left knee; I haven't completely recovered. I still hope to play Sunday against IRAN. Saturday morning training will determine whether I play. If I'm fit on Sunday, there's a great chance I'll be on the pitch ". On IRAN, YUGOSLAVIA's first opponent, the Yugoslav forward declared: "I couldn't even give you the names of five Iranian players, but I know this team plays offensively ".

 

Dejan STANKOVIC (20)

Also participating in the press conference, Dejan STANKOVIC gave us his view of things four days before his team's match against IRAN. This will be the first World Cup competition for the youngest player on the Yugoslav team - he'll turn 20 next November. But he doesn't seem intimidated by the idea of playing alongside SAVICEVIC, MIJATOVIC and STOJKOVIC: "It's not very easy playing amid great players like my team-mates, but I think I'm really part of the team". This young mid-fielder, mentally and physically ready, added that he'll do his best for his team which meets IRAN at 5:30 pm, Sunday 14 June at the stade Geoffroy-Guichard in SAINT-ETIENNE.