BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2009) – Serbia coach Dusan Ivkovic has officially given up hope of Igor Rakocevic and Vule Avdalovic helping the team try to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Ivkovic had held talks with both, including a “very, very long” meeting with Rakocevic on Monday – the first day of Serbia’s training for the EuroBasket.

"Rakocevic's tendon (injury) isn't the only issue,” Ivkovic said.

“Due to rehabilitation, he could only join the rest of his team-mates much later, after the start of our trainings, which wouldn't be a good move.

“We've analyzed the situation, the possibility of recovering him fully before the EuroBasket starts, and his judgment is that he wouldn't be ready."

Avdalovic has been ruled out with a knee injury.

"Our goal hasn't changed,” Ivkovic said.

“All we are interested in is to qualify for the World Championship.

“Last year we've wanted to qualify for the EuroBasket, and we did. Now we have another goal. And, I think, we have a good enough team.”

The players’ absences have led the Serbian coach to include guard Bojan Popovic in his preliminary squad.

He has also named five players from the team that just captured gold at the 2009 University Games with a 73-51 victory over Russia.

They are guards Ivan Paunic, Nemanja Bjelica and Marko Keselj, and centers Milan Macvan and Miroslav Raduljica.

Serbia will face Slovenia, Spain and Great Britain in Group C of the EuroBasket.

They must have a top six finish in Poland. If 2010 hosts Turkey are in the top six, then a top seven finish would be good enough for Ivkovic’s team.

“I'm really glad to have these players, but I must say that due to injuries, we've added several youngsters to our team a bit earlier than was planned,” Ivkovic said.

“But, that will, maybe not at the moment, but later for sure, give us a lot of benefits.”

FIBA