After a change on the bench – Dragica Djuric replaced Sasa Boskovic -, Serbia started a new era without former key players like Andrea Lekic, Dragana Cvijic and Sanja Damnjanovic. The Balkan team doesn’t have superstars but their main strength lies in the team spirit and mentality, and they can cause problems to the opponents, as shown in the world championship a year ago. However, key players like Katarina Krpez Slezak or Andjela Janjusevic were struggling with injuries during the last phase of preparation or coming back from injury. Serbia’s main goal is to reach the main round and they have very good chances for the TOP12 – and then anything can happen. One thing is sure: Serbia will not give away the two points away, they are always one of the toughest nuts to crack.
Key players: Kristina Liscevic, Katarina Krpez Slezak, Jovana Risovic
Absences: Andrea Lekic, Dragana Cvijic, Sanja Damnjanovic (not playing in the national team – not selected)
The 18-player-squad for the final stage of preparation:
Jovana Risovic (goalkeeper, Randers HK)
Marija Colic (goalkeeper, OGC Nice)
Nina Kolundzic (goalkeeper, Graz)
Sanja Radosavljevic (left wing, Váci NKSE)
Dijana Radojevic (left wing, Selfoss)
Jelena Trifunovic (left back, Craiova)
Jovana Stoiljkovic (left back, Nantes)
Marija Obradovic (left back, TuS Metzingen)
Jovana Kovacevic (left back, Békéscsabai ENKSE)
Kristina Liscevic (playmaker, Astrakhanochka)
Tamara Georgijev (playmaker, Krim)
Jelena Lavko (right back, Fehérvár KC)
Andjela Janjusevic (right back, Siófok KC)
Marina Dmitrovic (right back, Kisvárdai KC)
Katarina Krpez Slezak (right wing, ÉRD)
Zeljka Nikolic (right wing, Craiova)
Marija Petrovic (pivot, Arandjelovac)
Sladjana Pop-Lazic (pivot, Metz)
Head coach: Dragica Djuric
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