SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC defender Emrah Klimenta has been named in the Montenegro National Team squad that will face Denmark and Poland this week for the chance to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Klimenta has made two prior appearances for his country internationally, including earlier this year as Montenegro earned a 4-1 victory against Armenia in its bid to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. Klimenta has recorded 25 appearances for Republic FC this year, and this past Saturday scored his fourth goal of the season in a 2-0 win against Phoenix Rising FC.

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The 26-year-old is the second Republic FC player to be called up for World Cup Qualifying this week, with forward Trevin Caesar named in Trinidad & Tobago’s squad to face Mexico and the United States over the international break.

Montenegro is currently in second place in Group E of UEFA Qualifying, level on points with Denmark and three back of Poland entering the final two games of qualifying. Montenegro earned a 1-0 victory against Denmark when the teams met in Copenhagen last year. A repeat performance on Thursday in Podgorica, Montenegro (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3) would put the side in position for a top-two finish before it concludes by visiting Poland on Oct. 10.

The group winner will automatically qualify for the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer, while the top eight runners-up from the nine groups in UEFA qualifying will advance to a playoff for the remaining four places assigned to the federation.