Two players from the Uzbekistan Super League have earned call-ups to European national teams for the March international window. Sogdiana Jizzakh forward Ljupcho Doriev has returned to the North Macedonia squad after a lengthy absence, while Neftchi Fergana winger Vladimir Jovović is back with Montenegro under a new head coach.
Doriev has been called up for North Macedonia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off matches. The team will face Denmark in Copenhagen on March 26. If North Macedonia advance, they will meet the winners of the Czech Republic vs Ireland tie on March 31 for a place at the World Cup.
Doriev was last called up by North Macedonia in October 2023 and had not returned to the squad since then. His recall comes after a managerial change, with Blagoja Milevski leaving his post and Goce Sedloski taking over. Sedloski is also in charge of Vardar.
Doriev joined Sogdiana in 2023 after being brought to the club by Montenegrin coach Ivan Bošković. Since then, he has established himself as one of the standout foreign players in the Uzbekistan Super League and has twice been included in the league’s Team of the Season.
Meanwhile, Jovović has been called up to the Montenegro national team for March friendlies against Andorra and Slovenia. The 31-year-old is one of Montenegro’s most experienced internationals, having made 63 appearances for the national team.
It is Jovović’s first call-up since Mirko Vučinić replaced Robert Prosinečki as Montenegro head coach. The Neftchi winger had last been involved under the previous coaching staff.