The young midfielder made his international debut against Cyprus in April 1998 and has earned a regular starting place ever since.
A robust player yet composed on the ball, he left SCT Olimpija for Crevena and his career has gone from strength to strength.
He has already demonstrated his eye for goal, netting five at the highest level, including a freakish lob from the half-way line in the first leg of the play-off with Ukraine.
Coming into form - he scored against Saudi arabia in Slovenia's fional warm-up match as well, having come on as a second-half sub for Udovic.
Continued his pretournament substitute role in Euro 2000, coming on to replace Udovic against Yugoslavia, Pavlin against Spain and Galic against Norway.