FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Anton Drobnjak was a late starter at international level, but he is likely to be one of the key men for Yugoslavia at the World Cup finals.

A prolific striker with rare flair, 29-year-old Drobnjak only made his national team debut in October 1996 — against the Faroe Islands. But his form this season as unfashionable Lens stormed to their first French League title has marked him as a man to watch.

Not only is Drobjnak a scorer and a provider of chances, he is also perfectly at home in France, where he has played since 1994. Born in Bijelo Polje in what is now Montenegro, Drobjnak played first at FK Buducnost alongside Dejan Savicevic and then at Red Star Belgrade before joining Corsican club Bastia. He joined a list of exciting attackers to play for the club. His predecessors included Dutchman Johnny Rep and Cameroon great Roger Milla.

Drobnjak was a regular scorer in his three season with Bastia, helping the club to a UEFA Cup spot this season before they had to cash in and sell him to Lens. “Anton was a tremendous success here, and very popular,”but we had no choice but to sell him,” said Bastia president Francois Nicolai. Italian clubs Lazio and Reggiana were reported to be interested in signing the long-haired attacker and it came as a surprise when he moved to Lens. The coal-mining club from a city of only 35,000 have never enjoyed success like that Drobnjak brought them playing in tandem with Czech international Vladimir Smicer.

He has the lot. He is physically very strong, is superb in the air and is a devastating finisher with a powerful right-foot shot.