Boskov looks to overseas stars

Lazio's Dejan Stankovic is key figure

Yugoslavia manager Vujadin Boskov has named only five home-based players in a squad of 24 for a tour of Asia ahead of Euro 2000.

"The four matches in Asia will be very useful to carve out the first team for our opening match of the European championship finals against Slovenia on June 13," Boskov said.

The tour starts with a friendly against China in Beijing on May 25, followed by a double-header against South Korea in Seoul on May 28 and 30 and the final warm-up against Hong Kong on June 3.

Boskov said his squad needed "psychological preparation" to progress beyond the group stage.

"The players are fully fit, the problem is that they are scattered across Europe with their different habits and training methods," he said.

"We must change all that and mould them together into a team. Our group is tough as Norway will be a handful and Slovenia are no pushovers either."

Predrag Mijatovic does not rate Yugoslavia's chances

Boskov again relied on stalwarts playing in Italy and Spain.

Fiorentina striker Predrag Mijatovic admitted Yugoslavia were not among the favourites but said the team could reach the semifinals with a good team spirit and outstanding performances.

"Everybody will be trying to make history out there. There are no obvious favourites, but getting past the likes of defending European champions Germany, world champions France and the Netherlands will be a tall order," he said.

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Yugoslavia preliminary squad:

Goalkeepers: Ivica Kralj (PSV Eindhoven), Zeljko Cicovic (Las Palmas), Aleksandar Kocic (Red Star Belgrade).

Defenders Ivan Dudic (Red Star Belgrade), Slobodan Komljenovic (Kaiserslautern), Miroslav Djukic (Valencia), Sinisa Mihajlovic (Lazio), Nisa Saveljic (Girondins Bordeaux), Goran Bunjevcevic (Red Star Belgrade), Goran Djorovic (Celta Vigo), Mladen Krstajic (Partizan Belgrade).

Midfielders: Slavisa Jokanovic (Deportivo Coruna), Vladimir Jugovic (Inter Milan), Albert Nadj (Oviedo), Dejan Stankovic (Lazio), Jovan Stankovic (Mallorca), Ljubinko Drulovic (Porto), Dragan Stojkovic (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Dejan Govedarica (RKC Waalwijk), Nenad Grozdic (Vitesse Arnhem).

Forwards: Predrag Mijatovic (Fiorentina), Savo Milosevic (Zaragoza), Darko Kovacevic (Juventus), Mateja Kezman (Partizan Belgrade).