Serbia World Cup 2018 profile: Ones to watch, star men, best bets and more
They line-up in the tough-looking Group E alongside Brazil, Switzerland and Costa Rica. Serbia will be hopeful of progression.
Serbia
- FIFA World Ranking: 35
- Sky Bet outright winner odds: 200/1
- Best Bet: Serbia to win exactly six points in the group stage – 11/2
- World Cup appearances: 2 (as Serbia & Montenegro), 1 (as Serbia)
- Best World Cup finish: Second-round (1998)
- Nickname: The Orlovi (The Eagles)
Coach – Mladen Krstajic: Officially the caretaker manager following the dismissal of Slavoljub Muslin in 2017, Krstajic will take permanent charge of the national team until the end of the World Cup.
Legend – Nemanja Vidic: Widely regarded as the greatest defender of his generation, Nemanja Vidic’s time at Manchester United saw him collect five Premier League titles and one Champions League. He and Rio Ferdinand formed one of the most formidable partnerships in Premier League history and Manchester United are to this day still trying to fill a Vidic-shaped hole at the back.
Vidic was also an integral cog in Serbia’s “Famous Four” defence who conceded just one goal during the entire 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign. Also in that back line was Serbia’s manager Mladen Krstajic.
Star Man – Nemanja Matic: Despite occupying a deep-lying midfield role in the Premier League, do not be shocked if this Rolls Royce of a footballer takes up a more advanced, dictating position for his national side. As well as an impeccable understanding and reading of the game, Matic also boasts a terrific passing range. He also keeps a thunderbolt of a strike in his armoury for special occasions.
Did you know? Milorad Arsenijevic became the first person to play and manage at a World Cup, featuring for Yugoslavia in 1930 before taking charge in 1950.
Fun Fact: In qualifying for the 2006 World Cup Serbia conceded just one goal, boasting the best defensive record of all the 51 teams involved in qualifying. The four defenders were dubbed the "famous four".
Qualifying: Group D winners in European qualifying, finishing two points clear of runners-up Republic of Ireland.
Group E Fixtures: Costa Rica (1pm, June 17, Samara), Switzerland (7pm, June 22, Kaliningrad), Brazil (7pm, June 27, Moscow)
Serbia squad
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Partizan Belgrade), Predrag Rajkovic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Marko Dmitrovic (Eibar).
Defenders: Aleksandar Kolarov (AS Roma), Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dusko Tosic (Guangzhou R&F), Antonio Rukavina (Villarreal), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Milan Rodic (Red Star Belgrade), Uros Spajic (Krasnodar), Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina).
Midfielders: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Marko Grujic (Liverpool), Adem Ljajic (Torino), Dusan Tadic (Southampton), Filip Kostic (Hamburg SV), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica), Nemanja Radonjic (Red Star Belgrade).
Strikers: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United), Aleksandar Prijovic (PAOK Salonika), Luka Jovic (Benfica).
Serbia Profile
After missing out on World Cup qualification in 2014 the Orlovi made no mistakes this campaign, topping the group with just one defeat in 10 games. When looking through the players at their disposal, it is no surprise that the Serbs have made it to just their second World Cup as an independent country.
A midfield duo of Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic and Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic will provide protection for the creation of Lazio’s Sergej Milikovic-Savic and Duscan Tadic of Southampton. If they can provide the chances for Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, goals should be a formality.
Add that to the experience of Aleksandar Kolorov and Branislav Ivanovic at the back, Serbia will prove a difficult team to beat.
Who to watch out for
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has caused controversy in abundance during the qualifying campaign, ultimately costing ex-boss Slavoljub Muslin his job. Muslin omitted Milinkovic-Savic from his team on several occasions during qualifying, much to the anger of the Serbian FA, who believed the Lazio playmaker should be starting.
The 23 year-old has attracted much attention from Manchester United who are hoping to secure his signature this summer. He is a clear favourite of the Serbian hierarchy as well as manager Krstajic and will be pushing for a starting place in Russia.
How did they qualify?
Six wins, three draws and just one defeat saw Serbia top a group containing Republic of Ireland and 2016 European Championship semi-finalists Wales.
After an early shock defeat to Austria, two draws against Wales meant Serbia could not afford to drop any more points. They recorded victories in every other game with the only exception being the final group match - a 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland.
Despite finishing top of the group, Serbia conceded more goals than both Ireland and Wales during qualifying.
Any interesting facts about Serbia?
Vampires originate from Serbia with their most famous being Sava Savanovic. In the town of Zarozje in 2012, an old mill in which the Vampire was allegedly lodging collapsed, prompting the mayor to issue an official health warning claiming the beast may be loose and looking for a new property. Seriously.
Serbia is the world’s leading raspberry exporter, contributing 30% of the world’s total.
Any famous football moments?
Having only played one tournament as Serbia, famous moments are few and far between but victory against Germany in 2010 was most definitely a footballing highlight.
Germany had not lost in the group-stage of a World Cup since 1986 until Milan Jovanovic’s 35th minute volley gave Serbia a 1-0 triumph. Jovanovic’s effort was Serbia’s only shot on target all game.