Time is running out for Branko Boskovic to make a return to the field this season for D.C. United from a knee injury suffered in April, but his other team, the Montenegrin national side, received new life when England forward Wayne Rooney lost his mind and kicked defender Miodrag Dzudovic in the second half of the teams’ Euro 2012 qualifier earlier this month, getting sent off and allowing Montengro to salvage a 2-2 tie with the English, enough to earn a place in the qualification playoffs.
“I think it’s stupid, you know, a player like him,” Boskovic said of Rooney. “He can’t do that, especially in that game, when [England] need the points, it’s like final to go directly to Euro Cup. But sometimes that happens because this defender of Montenegro, nobody know him, he’s so motivated, maybe he hit Rooney, these things happen.”
England did go through, of course, but will be without Rooney for the group stage after he was given a three-match ban by UEFA. Montenegro will face the Czech Republic in a home-and-away series starting on the road Nov. 11 before a return leg at home on Nov. 15, with a spot in Euro 2012 on the line.
“Nobody expected it, especially when I see [England leading] 2-0,” Boskovic said. “I say, Oh my god, we [will] need to win in Switzerland and everybody knows it’s going to be a very tough game and hard and maybe we can lose. But after this, 2-2, and it’s good, and [Switzerland] lose against Wales.”
A fixture on the national team before his injury, a win over the Czechs would likely mean a place for Boskovic himself in next summer’s championship tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
“Yeah, maybe. I hope,” Boskovic said. “We have chance, especially when you have a team like Czech Republic. They are still good team, but not team like five years ago, when they were top. They still have good players, but I think we have chance, more chance than if we play against Portugal or Croatia. We will see. I hope we can win and go.”
Of course, right now Boskovic still can’t help Montenegro or D.C. United. He played keep away with some of his teammates in practice on Monday but ruled himself out of any heroic comeback appearance against Portland on Wednesday or Kansas City this weekend.
“No chance,” Boskovic said. “I’m still maybe 75 percent. I need to work physically now. Maybe, if we go to playoffs, maybe.”
Boskovic is currently under contract with D.C. United until next summer.
