Bale, who wins his 25th cap on Friday, could be key to Wales' hopes of opening their Euro 2012 campaign with a victory against Montenegro in Podgorica.

BBC: Wales hoping for inspiration from in-form Gareth Bale

Such criticism has not ruffled feathers in Podgorica.

ECONOMIST: Montenegro and the European Union

Wayne Rooney, who was sent off on his last visit to Podgorica, thought he had atoned when heading the 1966 world champions into an early lead only for the hosts to dominate the second half and deservedly equalize through Dejan Damjanovic.

CNN: Spain win in Paris to leapfrog France

But now even Mr Djukanovic's enemies in Podgorica, the capital, who say that their youthful president is much less of a reformer than his western friends assert, admit that his popularity is rising again, after a dip induced by the first two weeks of bombing Montenegro's military and naval installations.

ECONOMIST: Montenegro