Point guard Igor Rakocevic couldn't cope with being third choice point guard so he has been left off Serbia & Montenegro's 12-man squad for the European Championships.

Rakocevic, a former guard with the Minnesota Timberwolves, played on both of his country's triumphant teams at Eurobasket two years ago in Turkey and the World Championships last summer in Indianapolis.

But competition in the squad, particularly at his playmaker spot, has been intense.

National team coach Dusko Vujosevic said: "The playmaker position is the only one where we have had a good competition in our team. Rakocevic trained well, he behaved good during our preparations.

"He is one of our best players, but at his position - Marko Jaric and Milos Vujanic have slightly advantage. That was reason why I spoke to Igor (Rakocevic) before our last preparation match againt Turkey, when I asked him if he would be all right if he would be our third playmaker, with smaller minutes in games then before.

"He sincerely said that he doesn't like that, and after one more talk, after the game against Turkey, I decided to remove him from list of players.

"It is my opinion that Jaric and Vujanic have an advantage at the moment, and I will have a full responsibility for such decision."

Relaying such news to players is never easy, but on this occasion the player accepted his coach's decision.

"Igor was extremely calm and he realized what I've told him," the coach said. "He accepted my decision, said his good-bye to team-mates and there weren't any (bad) incidents. He is not finished with playing at national team, of course, just - I think that other two guards we need more in Sweden."

Rakocevic wasn't the only player to miss out.

Dejan Milojevic and Dragan Tarlac will not be travelling, either, although Kosta Perovic was given a place in the final team.

Vujosevic said: "I've had a big wish that forward Dejan Milojevic be in our squad, as he is a big fighter, true warrior and with energy that always has positive effect on our team.

"Still, doctors said that he has to be sidelined until end of European championship because of injury.

"Dragan Tarlac has had just two trainings with our team, and with Nenad Krstic's injury - that has left us with small number of centres.

"Kosta Perovic is still young, but one of our most talented players too, so I've picked him for Eurobasket, as I'm sure that he can be good in tournament like European championship is."

Serbia & Montenegro squad for European Championships in Sweden, starting
September 5:

Dusan Vukcevic (guard), Dejan Koturovic (centre), Nebojsa Bogavac (guard/forward), Vule Avdalovic (point guard), Predrag Stojakovic, (capt, forward), Djuro Ostojic (centre), Marko Jaric (point guard), Predrag Drobnjak (centre), Ognjen Askrabic (centre), Milos Vujanic
(guard), Kosta Perovic (centre) and Milan Gurovic (forward).