Serbia coach's son not on plane for finals

MUENSTER, Germany, June 6 (Reuters) The son of the Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic, at the centre of a row over nepotism, failed to arrive in Germany with the rest of the team when they flew to the World Cup finals today.

''Dusan Petkovic did not arrive with the team,'' said spokesman Aleksandar Boskovic.

Defender Petkovic was a controversial late addition to the Group C squad amid suggestions in local media of favouritism by his father.

Serbia captain Savo Milosevic told reporters: ''The team spirit is outstanding. Nothing can disrupt the atmosphere we've got.

''Those of us who are here will play our hearts out and we are confident we can do well in the tournament.'' REUTERS DH ND1802