Kranjčar takes Montenegro mantle

Former Croatia trainer Zlatko Kranjčar will lead Montenegro through UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying after being named as only their second ever coach.

Kranjčar, 53, feels his success in guiding Croatia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals has set the benchmark for what he hopes to achieve in his new post. "Montenegro have a very talented and very interesting group of players," said the former NK Dinamo Zagreb coach. "My predecessor Zoran Filipović formed that group and did a good job. What I noticed is that players need to play with more passion and professionalism. I will try to change that."

Football Association of Montenegro president, Dejan Savićević, is sure the right man is now at the helm following Filipović's departure last month. "We want more in EURO 2012 qualifying," he said. "We want to make a step forward. I think we have made a good choice, as Kranjčar has experience with the Croatian national team." Montenegro will discover what stands between them and a trip to Poland and Ukraine at Sunday's qualifying draw in Warsaw, with Kranjčar open to the idea of facing Croatia, for whom his son, Niko Kranjčar, also plays. "I think we would have a chance of getting a good result," he said.