2010 World Cup: Profile On Serbia

The Serbian national football team evolved from the Serbia and Montenegro national team after Montenegro became an independent country. Previously it was the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, so created after the civil war in the early 1990s which saw the then autonomous provinces of Bosnia “Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia all breaking away to become independent nations on their own. Although Yugoslavia never won the World Cup, it was considered one of the strongest teams in Eastern Europe for years by many pundits and the likes of Dejan Savicevic, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinecki, Alen Boksic, Davor Suker and Dragan Stojkovic amongst others lit the World stage with their soccer skills at the 1990 World Cup, the last time the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia fielded a single national team. Yugoslavia reached the quarterfinals of that tournament where they were beaten on penalties by Argentina Yugoslavia were semifinalists during the 1962 World Cup, but after the breakaway of other nations, Croatia placed third at the 1998 World Cup, with Slovenia qualifying for the World Cup four years later. Serbia and Montenegro qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and following the declaration of independence by Montenegro in June 2006, Serbia is now the country that adequately represents the defunct Yugoslav state.

In spite of the break up of the former Yugoslavia, new talents began to emerge and after Montenegro's declaration of independence, Serbia launched an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland. Soon, one of Serbia's wiliest coaches, Radomir Antic, who had had over a decade of coaching experience in Spain, including spells with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletico Madrid, was hired to become the new head coach in August 2008 with a simple brief; to qualify Serbia for the 2010 World Cup. In fact, Antic won the La Liga and Copa Del Rey with Athletico in 1996, had taken Real Madrid seven points clear at the top of La Liga before his sacking in January 1992 and was the coach that blooded the likes of Victor Valdes and Andres Iniesta for Barcelona before he was replaced by Frank Rijkaard.

Antic, who has a reputation for bringing on young talent, set about gathering the remnants of the Serbian component of the 2006 Serbia-Montenegro World Cup squad and began introducing young graduates of the Serbian Under 21 side that reached the 2007 European Under 21 Championship final. Players like Manchester United’s Zoran Tosic and Stuttgart's Zdravko Kuzmanovic as well as defenders Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragoza) and Neven Subotic (Dortmund) were all incorporated into the team to blend with established stars like Nemanja Vidic, Branislav Ivanovic, skipper Dejan Stankovic and Nicola Zigic amongst others. Antic made sure that there was competition for places and long serving left back Ivica Dragutinovic for instance was quickly upstaged by the likes of Obradovic and Aleksandar Kolarov. Sevilla defender Dragutinovic, who was incidentally discovered by Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac, is still a valuable squad member. The team is well stocked in central defence with Ivanovic, who normally plays at right back but is quite comfortable as a centre half, Vidic, Subotic and Udinese star Aleksandar Luzovic, who can also play as a left back and was Vidic's partner for much of the qualifiers.

Behind the back four is Vladimir Stojkovic, who is struggling to gain a first team place at Sporting Lisbon but remains Antic's first choice. He was in goal for most of the qualifiers and will probably seek a transfer in January to bolster his chances of making the squad. He has competition from Vladimir Disljenkovic, who plies his trade in the Ukraine with Metalurh Donetsk.

Dejan Stankovic remains the driving force for the team from midfield and is in his eleventh year with the squad. Currently on the books of Inter Milan, his leadership qualities as one reason why Serbia qualified ahead of France for the World Cup. Antic also brought in Wolves' midfielder Nenad Milijas to give the side an attacking edge from deep. Milijas is Stankovic's regular partner in midfield. CSKA Moscow's Milos Krasic is currently Antic's first choice on the right side of attack, and the skilful 25 year old has the license to dribble inside and shoot, as well as create. Even though the giant Zigic is the focus of attack, he helps to bring in other players such as either Danko Lazovic or Marco Pantelic to do the damage. Serbia's formation is normally a 4-4-2, but mobility in attack means it evolves during matches to 4-3-3 with Zigic, either Lazovic or Pantelic and left sided Standard Liege attacker and free-kick specialist, Milan Jovanovic who emerged as Serbia's top scorer in the qualifiers with 5 goals, leading the attack. Other creative players in the squad include Tosic, Kuzmanovic, Bosko Jankovic and Gojko Kacar.

Serbia are particularly dangerous from set-pieces, with the aerial abilities of Chelsea defender Ivanovic and Manchester United star Vidic used to stunning effect. In fact, Ivanovic, whose two headed goals in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal effectively knocked out rivals Liverpool, scored three times for Serbia during the qualifiers from such set-pieces. Also the likes of Jovanovic, Stankovic and Krasic love to shoot from distance and the 6 ft 8 striker Zigic uses his height to set up goals, as well as score them.

If any team wants to stop Serbia, the wings would have to be watched and man-marking would have to be employed for corner kicks and free kicks. Ghana’s Black Stars would probably be heartened by the fact that Serbia-Montenegro was defeated 3-2 by Ivory Coast during the 2006 World Cup, plus the fact that Kwadwo Asamoah will know all about Udinese team-mate Luzovic, just as Michael Essien will about Ivanovic at Chelsea.

Serbia will no doubt be seeking to improve on their performance in Germany, where all three games were lost, including a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Argentina. Even though the side has got fine players, one senses that Radomir Antic could be the main man with his rich experience and tactical nous. No wonder Rajevac had wanted to avoid Serbia, as it is understood that he is a big fan of Antic's work. So, it looks like a case of an apprentice trying to best his master. We will all have to wait until June 13 2010 at 3pm Ghana time when the Black Stars of Ghana take on the White Eagles of Serbia in Pretoria.

Possible Starting Line Up

GK: Vladimir Stojkovic

RB: Branislav Ivanovic