Petkovic under fire for selecting son

Belgrade media has blasted Serbia and Montenegro manager Ilija Petkovic for including his 32-year-old son Dusan in the World Cup squad as an injury  replacement.

"Petkovic, send your son home," said the daily Blic after the manager's decision to replace injured striker Mirko Vucinic with the central defender.

Former international Dragan Stojkovic yesterday called the decision scandalous.

"Disgrace," screamed the high-circulating daily Kurir in a front page headline and said Petkovic had "shocked all soccer fans in Serbia and discredited himself."

The Press newspaper said the country was "thunderstruck".

The manager has said he believes the team will benefit from the inclusion of his son, who has scored one goal in 12 international appearances but played no part in Serbia's World Cup qualifying campaign.

"I have never helped Dusan in his career although I could have many times," he told reporters in the team's training camp in Felden, Austria.

"I know this will produce all kinds of comments back home but this is my decision."

Vecernje Novosti quoted Dusan Petkovic as saying that his father did not deserve the media criticism.

After indifferent spells with Spartak Moscow, Mallorca, Yokohama and in the Bundesliga, Dusan Petkovic returned to the Serbia and Montenegro first division in April to play for his first club OFK Belgrade.

Vucinic injured his knee at the under-21 European championship in Portugal.

Amazingly Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar is in a similar predicament after selecting his son as the team's playmaker.

Niko, 21, has come under scrutiny this season - particularly his weight and alleged lack of fitness - after it became clear he was the only person his father wanted to command the midfield.

Detractors call Niko 'fatty', others say he has vision and creativity.

Criticism of his game reached a climax after the team's dismal 2-2 draw against Iran last Sunday during which the Hajduk Split playmaker was booed by the crowd.

An angry Zlatko Kranjcar said Niko's place in the squad was guaranteed despite the critics.

"This team needs Niko, his fellow players have great confidence in him. My message to all those who are raising this 'issue' is: Leave all hope, Niko will play," Kranjcar told the Jutarnji List daily.

Newspapers lashed out against the coach, saying he was turning a blind eye to his son's shortcomings.

"Even another bad performance from Niko cannot change the strong fatherly attitude of the coach Zlatko," the Vecernji List daily said in a comment piece headlined "Fatherhood above coaching."

Jutarnji List, said Niko Kranjcar had become "the most important side issue in this country", and one that could put his father on collision course with everyone, should Croatia fail to progress from group stage at the World Cup.