FIFA WORLD CUP PREVIEW : SERBIA
The White eagles
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NICKNAME : WHITE EAGLES
CONFEDERATION : UEFA
CAPTAIN : DEJAN STANKOVIC
FIFA RANKING : 15
HEAD COACH : RADOMIR ANTIC
HISTORY : Serbia are a direct descendant of the Serbia and Montenegro national football team and the SFR Yugoslavia national football team. Serbia and Montenegro had qualified in the last world cup . however after that the two football federations have agreed to play separately . Serbian national team was previously known as the Yugoslavia national football team from 15 January 1992 until 4 February 2003, and then as the Serbia and Montenegro national football team until 3 June 2006 when Serbia declared independence as the successor state to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. It was officially renamed the Serbia national football team on 28 June 2006, while the Montenegro national football team was created to represent the new state of Montenegro.
Yugoslavia had been a prolific soccer team in the late ninties and the early part of the new millenieum . They were in the top 10 fifa ranking for a long time and possessed great players and matchwinners . However major success eluded them . Serbia and Montenegro had qualified for the FIFA 06 world cup with an unbeaten record . However they were defeated in all the three matches , the most remarkable match being the 6-0 thrashing by Argentina and the memorable 24 pass goal .
Serbia finished first in its first ever qualifying campaign as an independent nation, winning their group ahead of favorites France.They sealed their place in 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa with a 5 – 0 win against Romania on 11 October 2009.[4] .
RADOMIR ANTIC
THE TEAM : Many of them might not know that Serbia have an array of talented and star players and have already been stated to make a huge impact in the tournament, according to many pundits. The players all play in the top most leagues around the world.
Goalkeepers :
Andjelko Djuricic
Bojan Isailovic
Vladimir Stojkovic
An excellent-shot-stopper, Stojkovic was an automatic pick for Serbia throughout the 2010 World Cup qualifiers . He had been a prolific member in the serbian squad during the qualifying campaign . Bojan Isailovic will provide him some good cover as he has been awarded the the best goalkeeper in the Serbian league before . With no confusion or controversies before the world cup , Stojkovic remains firm favourites to be the no 1 choice .
DEFENDERS :
Nemanja Vidic The Red Devil
Aleksandar Kolarov
Aleksandar Lukovic
Ivan Obradovic
Antonio Rukavina
Serbia has two of the best defenders in the world in Ivanovic and Vidic .Both had been earlier named in the premiership teams of the season and hence provide stong cover and a solid backbone to the team . The ability of Ivanovic to excel in any position in defence will come in handy and he along with Vidic is no doubt the most important players in the squad . Ivanovic has also scored 3 important goals coming from the right back position and he would be a big threat .With Kolarov known as the Roberto Carlos of Serbia and Lukovic being another strong player at the heart of the defence , the task would be cut out for the other teams . Rukavina can also be used as an attacking player along the right flank providing ample options for the coach .
MIDFIELDERS :
Milan Jovanovic
Gojko Kacar
Milos Krasic
Zdravko Kuzmanovic
Nenad Milijas
Milos Ninkovic
Radoslav Petrovic
Dejan Stankovic
Zoran Tosic
Dejan Stankovic, the inspirational captain plays in a more of a defensive role for his country than he does for Inter, where he has been playing his club football for the past six years. Basically, he can do it all: serve as a ball-winner, link the play intelligently and score goals from open or set play and only one Serbian, striker Savo Milosevic, has more full caps than him.
Jovanovic is an out-and-out striker with his club side, but he is mainly used on the left-flank by Serbia, where his speed and subtlety on the ball are put to best use. Zoran Tosic, talented youngster, recently bought by Manchester United is also a talent to watch out for. Radoslav Petrovic is another tall lanky defensive midfielder who has earned many plaudits during his short playing career till now. Overall the midfield looks quite strong and with a good back four would definitely compete for the meanest defence .
FORWARDS :
Dejan Stankovic
Danko Lazovic
Dragan Mrdja
Marko Pantelic
Nikola Zigic
Towering at 6′ 8” inches, Zigic’s main claim to fame is that he is said to be the tallest player playing professional football anywhere in the world. He is probably their most influential forward and would be a force to reckon with . Marko Pantelic , 32 years old has seen it all in the football world with stints in 11 clubs and his experience would be a handy one for the other strikers . Dragan Mrdja is another prolific goalscorer and he added another feather to his cap by being the topmost hitman in the Serbian league this season .
AUTHORS PREDICTION :
With world class players, Serbia can give any team a run for their money. However inexperience at top levels is a hindering point . With Germany , Ghana and Australia in their group, they wont be having it easy. A minor slip and they would be out of the world cup. The game against Ghana would be a very crucial one if Germany proves too strong for them . However Australia are in with a chance too.
I predict them to finish in the 2nd spot in the group pipping Ghana and Australia and qualify for the knockout stages .
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO : Knockout stages .
