The Birth of a New Nation.

[Euan]

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Ok this is a save I started as the manager of Montenegro, using recent patch for transfers etc, it joins the story just before their first WC qualifier.
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Montenegro, FIFA's youngest nation, are about to embark on a footballing journey of the kind they have never experienced before. With a squad of youngsters, no international football experience, and a nation that cares more about water polo, this was never going to be a straightforward challenge for the Hrabri Sokoli (The Brave Falcons)...


NATION PROFILE


Name: Montenegro
Confederation: UEFA
Date Joined: 26 January 2007
FIFA World Ranking: 199 (as of June 2007)

Home Stadium: Gradski stadion Pod Goricom, Podgorica
Head Coach: Zoran Filipović
Team Captain: Mirko Vučinić

Most Capped: Three players (10)
Record Goalscorer: Mirko Vučinić (4)
Star Players: Mirko Vučinić, Igor Burzanović, Simon Vukčević


National captain Mirko Vucinic

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FALCONS DRAWN HANDSOME GROUP
Friday 25th January 2008



Last Montenegro were drawn into Group 4 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers alongside Holland, Greece, Iceland, N.Ireland and Azerbaijan

As the groups were drawn in Geneva last night, there were only smiles on the faces of the Montenegro officials. Although Group 4 seems a daunting task (containing Euro 2008 quarter finalists Holland, and Euro 2004 winners Greece) but Montenegro manager Zoran Filipovic beleives it could have been alot worse.

"Of course is won't be easy, we will have to face massive sides like the Netherlands and Greece, but I beleive that it is an ideal group considering the way we play."

"Many people have already written us off completely, but I am sure we will surprise some of our doubters during the course of this qualifying campaign."

"The players will have to be at their peak of fitness and form before every game, as we need a huge effort if we wish to reflect our own abilities. I think we have the pool of players to cause upsets in this group, and we are hoping to be in contention by the end."

Montenegro's group 4 fixtures are as follows:

Iceland (H)
N.Ireland (A)
Holland (H)
Greece (A)
Azerbaijan (H)
N.Ireland (H)
Holland (A)
Iceland (A)
Azerbaijan (A)
Greece (H)

[Euan]

FILIPOVIC NAMES SQUAD FOR COMPETITIVE BOW
Thursday 4th September

Montenegro boss Zoran Filipovic has named his squad for his teams first ever competitive match at home to Iceland on the 10th of September. The squad features few surprises, with big names Vucinic, Bozovic and Vukcevic making the squad.

Still there are many players selected that are still looking for their first ever cap for the national team.

The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Vukasin Poleksic (Debrecen), Mihailo Radulovic (Sutjeska)

Defenders: Ivan Fatic (Internazionale), Vlado Jeknic (Wehen), Zeljko Kljajevic (Maribor), Ivan Masanovic (Zeta), Miladin Nelevic (Petrovac), Dejan Ognjanovic (LSK Lodz), Nikola Simovic (Mornar), Nikola Vujadinovic (Udinese)

Midfielders: Drasko Bozovic (Buducnost), Nenad Brnovic (Partizan), Igor Burzanovic (Red Star), Nikola Drincic (Amkar Perm), Nenad Lakovic (Mladost CKB), Marko Mugosa (FK Kom), Marko Raicevic (Buducnost), Simon Vukcevic (Sporting CP)

Forwards: Ivan Bukilic (Mladost CKB), Andrija Delibasic (Hercules), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina), Stefan Pajovic (Buducnost), Igor Petkovic (Cukaricki), Milan Purovic (Sporting CP), Velibor Vesovic (Buducnost), Mirko Vucinic (AS Roma)

[Euan]

VIOLA WONDERKID CROCKED FOR ICELAND CLASH
Saturday 6th September



Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic has pulled out of the Montenegro squad for their crunch tie against Iceland due to injury. The 18 year old suffered a heel injury during training and will miss Wednesday's game in Podgorica.

Jovetic, capped three times for Montenegro, signed for Serie A side Fiorentina in 2007 for £6 million from Partizan.

National team coach Zoran Filipovic has decided against drafting in a replacement for Jovetic.

[Euan]

FALCONS SCRAPE THROUGH AGAINST ICELAND

MONTENEGRO 2-2 ICELAND
Vucinic pen 23'.........Gudjohnsen 15'
Vucinic 39'...............Helguson 26'
...............................Gudjohnsen missed penalty 64'

Gradski stadion Pod Goricom, Podgorica
Attendance: 15,164


Montenegro won their first point after a 2-2 draw with group rivals Iceland in Podgorica. Two goals from Vucinic cancelled out Iceland's goals from Helguson and Gudjohnsen.

The home side got the first chance of the match on 6 minutes when Mirko Vucinic headed over the bar from a Nikola Vujadinovic free kick. The Falcons kept up the pressure and after 12 minutes, the ball fell to Igor Burzanovic at the edge of the Iceland box, and he was unlucky not to score as his strike was deflected wide by Indridi Sigurdsson.

Then against the run of play Iceland took the lead after Heidur Helguson's header was well saved by Poleksic, and Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen was there to apply the finish to the rebound.

This did not kill off Montenegro however, and they went right up the other end of the pitch and tried to equalise and Milan Purovic was unlucky to see his header go over the bar.

The home side did get their rewards when Atli Hallsson was deemed to have fouled Milan Purovic in the Iceland box, and whistler Alfonso Perez Burrull pointed straight to the spot to give Montenegro the penalty kick. Hotshot Mirko Vucinic drilled the penalty low to the 'keepers left to make the score 1-1.

The party atmosphere did not last for long in the Montenegrin capital however, as Iceland went back in front after only three minutes of the score being 1-1. Aron Ragnarsson floated in a delightful corner to the front post, where he found Heidur Helguson who had lost his marker, and the Bolton man stuck his header high into Vukasin Poleksic's net.

Iceland stayed in the ascendancy after that, and Gudjohnsen would have made it 1-3 had it not been for a stunning save from Poleksic.

Montenegro, spurred on by their home fans, went for a second equaliser, and after Simon Vukcevic struck the post on 34 minutes, the Falcons got that second equaliser. Vukcevic played a beautiful cross to the back post for Vucinic, and the Roma striker rose and headed across Iceland 'keeper Gudmundsson to make it 2-2.

Going into the second half, Iceland went searching for the winner, and created a few chances until 64 minutes when Drasko Bozovic scythed down Heidur Helguson in the box to give the away side a critical penalty. Eidur Gudjohnsen stepped up to take it, and subsequently balloned the ball over the bar to keep the scores level.

Gudjohnsen again thought he had the game won for Iceland after he had the ball in the net after 93 minutes, it turned out to be offside and both sides had to settle for a point in this truly scintillating match.

Next for Montenegro is an away trip to Belfast to take on Northern Ireland, and Iceland stay on the road for a tough away trip to Baku to play Azerbaijan.

[Euan]

FILIPOVIC NAMES SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP DOUBLE HEADER
Sunday 5th October

Montenegro boss Zoran Filipovic today named his 23-man squad for his country's games against Northern Ireland and Holland.

The squad is as expected, with the only major omissions being the injured Milan Purovic and Nenad Lakovic who is still sufferring from an ankle injury.


Milan Purovic, who misses out due to injury

Filipovic said that he is annoyed at certain omissions but beleives he has chosen the best group of players he can.

"Its the strongest squad we have, maybe I would like to add a few players but I can't do that for whatever reason. Lakovic is injured, as is Popovic, even Jovanovic is suspended for the game against Northern Ireland. And we can't forget Milan Purovic, who is arguably one of the best players we have here in Montenegro, there is no doubt he will be a big miss."

"But we are positive, my players are excited, they are confident, and they just can't wait to get out there. And that is exactly what I'm looking for."

The full squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Milos Dragojevic (Buducnost), Rajko Grujic (Zora), Vukasin Poleksic (Debrecen)

Defenders: Boban Cabarkapa (Buducnost), Ivan Fatic (Internazionale), Vlado Jeknic (Wehen), Miroje Jovanovic (FK Kom), Zeljko Kljajevic (Maribor), Ivan Masanovic (Zeta), Miladin Nelevic (Petrovac), Dejan Ognjanovic (LKS Lodz), Nikola Simovic (Mornar), Nikola Vujadinovic (Udinese)

Midfielders: Nenad Brnovic (Partizan), Zoran Bulatovic (Mogren), Igor Burzanovic (Crvena Zvezda), Nikola Drincic (Amkar Perm), Ivan Novovic (Mornar), Simon Vukcevic (Sporting CP)

Forwards: Andrija Delibasic (Hercules), Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina), Igor Petkovic (Cukaricki), Mirko Vucinic (AS Roma)

[Euan]

KEY PLAYERS MUST PERFORM



Montenegro boss Zoran Filipovic says that his big name players need to be on their best when they play Northern Ireland this Saturday.

Filipovic was talking at his team's training camp in Belfast before they face Nigel Worthington's side at the weekend.

"We're all really excited here as we really feel we can win. Northern Ireland are a very accomplished side but this is definately a game where we could get a result."

"However this is not going to come easily, we have some big players and they will all need to be on the top of their game if we are to get what we want. Players like Mirko [Vucinic] and Igor [Burzanovic] will need to give us good performances."

"I've watched Northern Ireland quite a few times, they have some talented players and they play a good system. I like Steven Davis and Jonny Evans is a great young player."

[Euan]

Northern Ireland 1-1 Montenegro
Clingan 84'...................Petkovic 72'

Montenegro will feel lucky to have escaped with a point after their 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

Northern Ireland seemed the better team for most of the game, and even though they conceded a goal through Petkovic, they were not able to win the game.

During the first half the home side had all the chances and they first came close when Warren Feeney headed over from 8 yards.

Northern Ireland had another great chance when Sammy Clingan shot from the edge of the area, but Igor Burzanovic managed to block the shot off the line. A similar situation happened just before half time when Chris Brunt tried his luck from 20 yards.

The pressure from Northern Ireland continued during the second half, and they got arguably their best opportunity when Martin Paterson was put through on goal by Steven Davis. However Paterson's attempt on goal was kept out by a miraculous save from Montenegro 'keeper Poleksic.

Montenegro then picked up their game, and on 66 minutes Michael McGovern had to pull off a miraculous save to keep out a thunderous strike from Mirko Vucinic.

Then the unexpected did happen as the Montenegrins took the lead through debutant Igor Petkovic. After a very slick move from the away side, a stunning cross from Simon Vukcevic allowed Petkovic to rattle a beautiful volley across McGovern's goal and into the top corner.

Northern Ireland then got their deserved equaliser when a great pass from Kyle Lafferty let Sammy Clingan stick the ball past the helpless Poleksic.

Montenegro will have to use their four days rest well as they have to play the Netherlands in Podgorica on Wednesday. Northern Ireland on the other hand have a tough away fixture against Iceland.

[Spav]

A very pleasing start to your story, Euan. I hope you keep it going.