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History
The Serbian National Team’s has had many names, but unfortunately is nearly absent of success under any of them. Competing as Yugoslavia until 2006, the nation finished as high as fourth in 1962. For the 2006 cup, the nation competed as part of Serbia and Montenegro finishing dead last of 32 teams. Moving into 2010, they finally appeared as Serbia, and though they won a game, they failed to reach the knockout rounds, finishing last in their group. Additionally, Serbia has only qualified for the European Championships once since 1988, finishing 8thin 2000.[i]The team did have its share of stars during this time, though. Former captain Dejan Stanković spent 15 years playing for the national team and in Serie A, and became the country’s most capped player ever.[ii]Also, though he won few accolades with Serbia, Nemanja Vidić anchored Manchester United’s backline for eight years, winning the Champions League once, and the Premier League five times, as well as being named Premier League Player of the Season awards twice and making the FIFPro World XI twice.[iii]You’d be hard pressed to find a player more accomplished on the club level, yet never really made a significant dent on the international stage. Recent successes at the youth level should make fans of the Serbian team optimistic for the nation’s fortunes moving forward. Serbia won the 2013 UEFA U-19 European Championships and the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and a few years on, these players are now breaking into the senior squad. That U-20 team won three straight knockout round games in extra time, showing their capability to grind out results, and with its strengths lying more on the defensive side, this Serbian squad will likely have to do the same.[iv]
Key Players
Serbia is a squad that seems to have underperformed given the amount of talent it has seen in its recent history. The backline has an especially impressive group of players headlined by fullbacks Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov. Each player was a regular starter on a recent Premier League winning side, and though they have passed their prime, each player can provide the sort of experience that would enable a young talented bunch like the current Serbian squad to succeed. Though the defense is strong, the center of midfield is undeniably Serbia’s strongest position on the field, anchored by one star well known on the world’s stage, and another that will be known soon enough.
Physically dominant in defense, athletically gifted enough to drive the ball forward from the back on his own, and technically skilled enough to control the game with his passing, Manchester United’s Nemanja Matić has everything you could want in a center defensive midfielder. Prior to joining United this season, Matić served as a bit of an unsung hero for two Premier League winning Chelsea sides, and the club’s fall in his absence this season is a testament to his talent.[v]Matić’s work in front of the backline will provide a comforting security for the team as a whole, but it will also hopefully allow for the offensive brilliance that is Sergej Milinković-Savić to thrive. Milinković-Savić was the star of the 2015 U-20 World Cup winning Serbian squad, winning the Bronze Ball as the third best player in the tournament. Since then, he has joined S.S. Lazio in Serie A, becoming one of the club’s best players and earning transfer links to Real Madrid and Juventus. At just 23 years old, Milinković-Savić can pick apart defenses with ease, racking up 12 goals and 9 assists across all competitions this season. Additionally, at 6’3”, Milinković-Savić has the physical make-up to bully his slighter counterparts and head in goals from set pieces.[vi]A precocious talent at such a young age, Milinković-Savić could use the tournament to catapult himself into one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Path to Qualification
Qualification for the World Cup out of UEFA is always a tough task, though Serbia probably felt fortunate to have landed in a relatively friendly group with Ireland, Wales, Austria, Georgia, and Moldova. Through six games Serbia was undefeated, but three draws left them even with Ireland atop the group, and an upstart Wales squad fresh of a successful European Championships just three points back in third. Serbia asserted itself over the next two games, though, beating Moldova and Ireland in succession, getting crucial goals from Aleksandar Kolarov in each game. With a three-point lead on Wales heading into the final two games of the schedule, qualification seemed practically in reach. Serbia squandered the first of these two games however, losing to a lowly Austria squad who had nothing but pride to play for. Heading into the last game, any sort of slip up would likely cost the Serbian’s their chance at the Cup. Still a goalless stalemate late in the second half against Georgia, the situation looked bleak for the Serbians, but a surprising contribution from substitute Aleksandar Prijović broke the deadlock, punching the Serbian ticket to Russia.[vii]
Manager Mladen Kristajić
Kristajić is one of the first stars to come out of Serbian national team since the nation became sovereign. Known fondly in Serbia for his inclusion in the “Famous Four” defensive line that led Serbia to the 2006 World Cup, Kristajić earned a reputation as an intelligent leader on the field. Leaving Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade in 2000, Kristajić would spend almost a decade in the Bundesliga playing for Werder Bremen and FC Schalke 04, winning a title and a German cup in the process. At the end of his career, he returned to Partizan to win another two Serbian SuperLiga titles before retiring in 2011. Kristajić’s first endeavor into the managerial realm actually came with the Serbian National Team, when he took over as caretaker manager in late 2017 after the team had qualified for the World Cup. Fans have criticized Kristajić’s youth and inexperience heavily, as he made some questionable tactical decisions in the few friendlies he has managed.[viii]Despite these concerns, Serbian supporters should be encouraged by Kristajić’s willingness to play younger players, something that his predecessor Slavoljub Muslin was not comfortable with, which ultimately cost him his job.
Fandom
Thousands of fans hit the streets of Belgrade to celebrate Serbia’s U-20(!!!) World Cup victory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hAxhA7Hqlk
Best moment from qualifying
Goal from Aleksandar Prijović that clinched qualification
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hzeKFR61ig
Can they make it?
The current Serbian squad has the look of a team that can ease into the knockout rounds of the World Cup, but the lack of true international pedigree and a tough group may end up being their downfall. The obvious favorite in the group is Brazil, and frankly Serbia likely won’t be able to outmatch their South American counterparts. The other two nations, Switzerland and Costa Rica, offer much more intriguing matchups. Though Switzerland isn’t really a world power, they have reached the knockout rounds in the two of the last three world cups. Similarly Costa Rica isn’t filled with many world-class talents, but the team was a penalty kick shootout away from reaching the semifinals in Brazil. These experiences should serve each nation well, but ultimately the burgeoning talent in Serbia will be too much to overcome, putting them in the knockout rounds.
Interesting fact
The team’s nickname is “The Eagles” though this didn’t come about until 2006 when the team separated from Montenegro, consequently giving up their blue jerseys and their former nickname Plavi, or “the Blues.”[ix]
[i]“Serbia – Club’s Profile.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/serbien/startseite/verein/3438.
[ii]“Dejan Stanković – Player Profile.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/dejan-stankovi%C4%87/profil/spieler/3428.
[iii]“Nemanja Vidic – Player Profile.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/nemanja-vidic-lrm-/profil/spieler/19726.
[iv]“Serbia U20 – Club Titles.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/serbien-u20/erfolge/verein/39543.
[v]“Nemanja Matic – Player Profile 17/18.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/nemanja-matic/profil/spieler/74683.
[vi]“Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Player Profile 17/18.” Transfermarkt, www.transfermarkt.com/sergej-milinkovic-savic/profil/spieler/266302.
[vii]“Iceland, Serbia Qualify for World Cup as Croatia and Ireland Reach Playoffs.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 9 Oct. 2017, www.espn.com/soccer/world-cup-qualifying-uefa/story/3224952/iceland-and-serbia-qualify-for-world-cup-as-croatia-and-ireland-reach-playoffs-but-wales-crash-out.
[viii]Beresford, Chloe. “Serbia Somewhat Of An Enigma Ahead Of This Summer’s World Cup.” The Sportsman, The Sportsman, 4 Apr. 2018, www.thesportsman.com/articles/serbia-somewhat-of-an-enigma-ahead-of-this-summers-world-cup.
[ix]Wikipedia contributors, “Serbia national football team,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Serbia_national_football_team&oldid=838834411 (accessed May 1, 2018).
Written by David Duquette
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