Having only been an individual nation in a footballing sense since the 16th of August 2006, Serbia are still a relatively new side to hit the international stage. Prior to that, they formed the side Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, which attended nine World Cups – so this will be the first as an individual nation, and they will surely hope to make a strong impact.
Antic’s men will be fighting for the second spot in the group, although they have once before topped a European heavyweight, so why not the Germans?
While most anticipated when pitted against the European heavyweights France in the qualification process, Serbia would come off second best, the newly anointed Serbian side managed to top the group with four points to spare. They were impressive on their road to South Africa, with a 5-0 win over Romania securing their spot in the penultimate game scheduled.
Serbia have been drawn in Group D where they face pre tournament favourites Germany, Ghana and Australia. Radomir Antic’s men will realistically be fighting for the second spot in the group, although they have once before topped a European heavyweight, so why not the Germans? The African side will probably fair the toughest competition for the second spot, while the Australians were underdogs in the last World Cup, and surprised many critics so will also be a tough challenge. Another tough fixture would await Serbia if they were to make it through to the next round in either England or the USA, however if all goes according to the stats it will be the latter making up the fixture.
Serbia’s Group D Schedule
No. |
Date |
Match |
Location |
Kick-Off (Local) |
Kick-Off (AEST) |
| 8 | 13.06.10 | Serbia V Ghana | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 16.00 | 00.00 (14.06.10) |
| 21 | 18.06.10 | Germany V Serbia | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 13.30 | 21.30 |
| 40 | 23.06.10 | Australia V Serbia | Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit | 20.30 | 04.30 (24.06.10) |
KEY PLAYERS:
DEJAN STANKOVIC (CAPTAIN)
Born: 11.09.1978 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Height: 1.81 metres
Position: Midfielder
Club: Inter Milan, Serie A
International Debut: Vs South Korea (22.04.1998 for the old Yugoslavia)
Dejan Stankovic has been the captain of Serbia since it found its independence on the football stage and has now led his team to its first world cup tournament. He is one of the more prolific players for the nation, with the enviable ability to alter the flow of a match with his fantastic range of passing and pin point accuracy as well as the great drive which allows him to score from a vast array of distances. Realistically this will be the last major tournament Stankovic will be a part of, so will help to be able to go out with a bang.
NEMANJA VIDIC
Born: 21.10.1981 in Titovo Uzice, Yugoslavia
Height: 1.88 metres
Position: Defender
Club: Manchester United, English Premier League
International Debut: Vs Italy (12.10.2002 for the old Yugoslavia)
Nemanja Vidic is widely regarded as one of the best centre backs in the world and was part of the ‘Famous Four’ in the qualification process for the 2006 World Cup, which only let in a single goal. The 2008/09 Player of the Season has helped the English former champions to three Premier League titles and was included in the PFA Team of the Year three times, so will no doubt look to help the Serbian side make a striking impact at the 2010 World Cup.
MILAN JOVANOVIC
Born: 18.04.1981 in Bajina Basta, Yugoslavia
Height: 1.83 metres
Position: Midfielder
Club: Liverpool FC, English Premier League
International Debut: Vs Finland (02.06.2007)
Milan Jovanovic has been a crowd favourite since his debut season at Standard Liege, and was nicknamed ‘the Snake’ due to his speed and agility which opposing midfields and defenders struggled to cope with. Jovanovic comes into the 2010 World Cup off the back of some of his greatest football, having been named the Jupiler League’s Player of the Year for 2010 before moving over to England. This will be his first appearance at a World Cup, and will no doubt hope to have the fire up front for Serbia and make this tournament his own.
SERBIAN SQUAD
Position |
Name |
| Coach | Radomir ANTIC |
| Goalkeepers | Andjelko DJURICIC |
| Bojan ISAILOVIC | |
| Vladimir STOJKOVIC | |
| Defenders | Branislav IVANOVIC |
| Aleksander KOLAROV | |
| Aleksander LUKOVIC | |
| Ivan OBRADOVIC | |
| Antonio RUKAVINA | |
| Neven SUBOTIC | |
| Nemanja VIDIC | |
| Midfielders | Milan JOVANOVIC |
| Gojko KACAR | |
| Milos KRASIC | |
| Zdravko KUZMANOVIC | |
| Nenad MILIJAS | |
| Milos NINKOVIC | |
| Radosav PETROVIC | |
| Dejan STANKOVIC | |
| Zoran TOSIC | |
| Forwards | Danko LAZOVIC |
| Dragan MRDJA | |
| Marko PANTELIC | |
| - | Danko LAZOVIC |
