Serb&Mont
Introduction to the underdogs of Group C: Serbia & Montenegro
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Intro:
Being only their second World Cup appearance [this is their first as Serbia & Montenegro, previously entered as Yugoslavia] they're not as well know as the opponents they'll face in Group C. I'm not holding too much hope for them getting to the knock-out stages regardless of their potential and their impressive qualification, finishing two points above Spain and topping their group. They were unbeaten, winning 6 drawing 4, and ended with a total of 22 points. It's a shame they drew Argentina, Ivory Coast, and the Netherlands really - though battling it out with these teams should help the Serbs improve greatly. Good luck to them and their fans.
Me? I have an attachment to two Serbia & Montenegro players what with them being at United and Atletico. Both of them will provide solidarity at each end of the pitch, Nemanja Vidic commanding the defence and Mateja Kezman helping them to counter attack and hopefully provide us with goals. Unfortunately, the boys will be going into their first game against Holland without Vidic. He managed to get himself sent off and banned for the first game of the World Cup - nice one, Nemanja. Kezman will be playing despite being carried off in training this last week [thanks to a clash with none other than Mr Vidic himself].
Adding to their less-than-full-strength squad, the media have been their usual precious selves and made accusations that've sent one of the Serbs replacements home. Dusan Petkovic, son of Serbia & Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic, withdrew from the squad after press speculated his inclusion was favouritism from the coach. Couldn't possibly be that he's a good player now could it? Terrible.
Squad:
Goalkeepers
JEVRIC Dragoslav - Date of Birth: 8 July 1974 - Caps: 40 Goals: 0
KOVACEVIC Oliver - Date of Birth: 29 October 1974 - Caps: 3 Goals: 0
STOJKOVIC Vladimir - Date of Birth: 28 July 1983 - Caps: 0 Goals: 0
Defenders
DRAGUTINOVIC Ivica - Date of Birth: 13 November 1975 - Caps: 26 Goals: 0
VIDIC Nemanja - Date of Birth: 21 October 1981 - Caps: 20 Goals: 1
GAVRANCIC Goran - Date of Birth: 2 August 1978 - Caps: 25 Goals: 0
BASTA Dusan - Date of Birth: 18 August 1984 - Caps: 2 Goals: 0
DJORDJEVIC Nenad - Date of Birth: 7 August 1979 - Caps: 15 Goals: 1
DUDIC Milan - Date of Birth: 1 November 1979 - Caps: 11 Goals: 0
PETKOVIC Dusan - Date of Birth: 13 June 1974 - Caps: 12 Goals: 1
KRSTAJIC Mladen - Date of Birth: 4 March 1974 - Caps: 45 Goals: 2
Midfielders
ERGIC Ivan - Date of Birth: 21 January 1981 - Caps: 1 Goals: 0
DULJAJ Igor - Date of Birth: 29 October 1979 - Caps: 37 Goals: 2
KOROMAN Ognjen - Date of Birth: 19 September 1978 - Caps: 25 Goals: 1
STANKOVIC Dejan - Date of Birth: 11 September 1978 - Caps: 58 Goals: 11
DJORDJEVIC Predrag - Date of Birth: 4 August 1972 - Caps: 34 Goals: 1
NADJ Albert - Date of Birth: 29 October 1974 - Caps: 42 Goals: 3
VUKIC Zvonimir - Date of Birth: 19 July 1979 - Caps: 25 Goals: 6
ILIC Sasa - Date of Birth: 30 December 1977 - Caps: 32 Goals: 5
Forwards
KEZMAN Mateja - Date of Birth: 12 April 1979 - Caps: 47 Goals: 17
MILOSEVIC Savo - Date of Birth: 2 September 1973 - Caps: 98 Goals: 35
ZIGIC Nikola - Date of Birth: 25 September 1980 - Caps: 11 Goals: 3
LJUBOJA Danijel - Date of Birth: 4 September 1978 - Caps: 15 Goals: 1
Though these factors may be adding to my pessimism about the Serbs chances in this years World Cup, our dear Nemanja doesn't agree.
"If we play like we did in qualifying, and if we enter the first match against Holland with courage and self-confidence, we can spring a surprise.."
Mateja is equally optimistic.
"Who would have thought Greece would do what they did in the European Championship? I have my dreams and I’m dreaming of 9 July. In football, anything can happen. At every big tournament there is a team that confounds everyone’s expectations, so why can’t that team be Serbia and Montenegro this time?"
BBC correspondent in Belgrade, Matt Prodger echoes his view.
"They're underdogs with good recent form. Supporters point to a solid squad, lacking in big names, but consistent in performance. In as much as a national team reflects a nation's character, however, be prepared for surprises."
Summary of what you need to know:
• Got to Germany by qualifying top of their group, above Spain.
• Their star man in qualifying was Mateja Kezman, formerly a Chelsea striker, now at Atletico Madrid partnering our Fernando Torres.
• Their manager is Ilija Petkovic, famed for his faith in young talent.
• Their captain is defender Mladen Krstajic, who has helped keep Serbia & Montenegro one of the toughest defences in world football.
• Nikola Zigic, striker, is currently the worlds tallest professional player at 6’8”. If he doesn’t win headers this year he’s sacked. [Not really]
• The Serbs could possibly falter this year as, although they have a solid defence and an in form front line, they lack in midfield.
• Their world ranking is 44.
• You can get odds of 100/1 for them to win the tournament. [Which still hasn’t dented their confidence]
Group C:
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Holland
Serb&Mont Schedule:
June 11th: 15:00: Serb&Mont - Netherlands
June 16th: 15:00: Argentina - Serb&Mont
June 21st: 21:00: Ivory Coast - Serb&Mont
Slash? Them?
Like any other football team, Serbia & Montenegro are no strangers to random touching, on-field groping, and constant team hugs. The lack of Kezman all over the others I put down to him staying loyal to Fer =)
A few others to perv over keep an eye out for:
Forward, Nikola Zigic and his love of ass-defining training outfits.
Midfielder, Dejan Stankovich and his manly ballet skills.
Forward, Danijel Ljuboja and his unique hair…
Defender, Dusan Basta and his incredibly pale skin.
Go on, cheer on the underdogs, you know you want to.
This is Mateja Kezman, using his ‘pretty please’ face to convince you.
Viva la Serbs.
SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Intro:
Being only their second World Cup appearance [this is their first as Serbia & Montenegro, previously entered as Yugoslavia] they're not as well know as the opponents they'll face in Group C. I'm not holding too much hope for them getting to the knock-out stages regardless of their potential and their impressive qualification, finishing two points above Spain and topping their group. They were unbeaten, winning 6 drawing 4, and ended with a total of 22 points. It's a shame they drew Argentina, Ivory Coast, and the Netherlands really - though battling it out with these teams should help the Serbs improve greatly. Good luck to them and their fans.
Me? I have an attachment to two Serbia & Montenegro players what with them being at United and Atletico. Both of them will provide solidarity at each end of the pitch, Nemanja Vidic commanding the defence and Mateja Kezman helping them to counter attack and hopefully provide us with goals. Unfortunately, the boys will be going into their first game against Holland without Vidic. He managed to get himself sent off and banned for the first game of the World Cup - nice one, Nemanja. Kezman will be playing despite being carried off in training this last week [thanks to a clash with none other than Mr Vidic himself].
Adding to their less-than-full-strength squad, the media have been their usual precious selves and made accusations that've sent one of the Serbs replacements home. Dusan Petkovic, son of Serbia & Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic, withdrew from the squad after press speculated his inclusion was favouritism from the coach. Couldn't possibly be that he's a good player now could it? Terrible.
Squad:
Goalkeepers
JEVRIC Dragoslav - Date of Birth: 8 July 1974 - Caps: 40 Goals: 0
KOVACEVIC Oliver - Date of Birth: 29 October 1974 - Caps: 3 Goals: 0
STOJKOVIC Vladimir - Date of Birth: 28 July 1983 - Caps: 0 Goals: 0
Defenders
DRAGUTINOVIC Ivica - Date of Birth: 13 November 1975 - Caps: 26 Goals: 0
VIDIC Nemanja - Date of Birth: 21 October 1981 - Caps: 20 Goals: 1
GAVRANCIC Goran - Date of Birth: 2 August 1978 - Caps: 25 Goals: 0
BASTA Dusan - Date of Birth: 18 August 1984 - Caps: 2 Goals: 0
DJORDJEVIC Nenad - Date of Birth: 7 August 1979 - Caps: 15 Goals: 1
DUDIC Milan - Date of Birth: 1 November 1979 - Caps: 11 Goals: 0
PETKOVIC Dusan - Date of Birth: 13 June 1974 - Caps: 12 Goals: 1
KRSTAJIC Mladen - Date of Birth: 4 March 1974 - Caps: 45 Goals: 2
Midfielders
ERGIC Ivan - Date of Birth: 21 January 1981 - Caps: 1 Goals: 0
DULJAJ Igor - Date of Birth: 29 October 1979 - Caps: 37 Goals: 2
KOROMAN Ognjen - Date of Birth: 19 September 1978 - Caps: 25 Goals: 1
STANKOVIC Dejan - Date of Birth: 11 September 1978 - Caps: 58 Goals: 11
DJORDJEVIC Predrag - Date of Birth: 4 August 1972 - Caps: 34 Goals: 1
NADJ Albert - Date of Birth: 29 October 1974 - Caps: 42 Goals: 3
VUKIC Zvonimir - Date of Birth: 19 July 1979 - Caps: 25 Goals: 6
ILIC Sasa - Date of Birth: 30 December 1977 - Caps: 32 Goals: 5
Forwards
KEZMAN Mateja - Date of Birth: 12 April 1979 - Caps: 47 Goals: 17
MILOSEVIC Savo - Date of Birth: 2 September 1973 - Caps: 98 Goals: 35
ZIGIC Nikola - Date of Birth: 25 September 1980 - Caps: 11 Goals: 3
LJUBOJA Danijel - Date of Birth: 4 September 1978 - Caps: 15 Goals: 1
Though these factors may be adding to my pessimism about the Serbs chances in this years World Cup, our dear Nemanja doesn't agree.
"If we play like we did in qualifying, and if we enter the first match against Holland with courage and self-confidence, we can spring a surprise.."
Mateja is equally optimistic.
"Who would have thought Greece would do what they did in the European Championship? I have my dreams and I’m dreaming of 9 July. In football, anything can happen. At every big tournament there is a team that confounds everyone’s expectations, so why can’t that team be Serbia and Montenegro this time?"
BBC correspondent in Belgrade, Matt Prodger echoes his view.
"They're underdogs with good recent form. Supporters point to a solid squad, lacking in big names, but consistent in performance. In as much as a national team reflects a nation's character, however, be prepared for surprises."
Summary of what you need to know:
• Got to Germany by qualifying top of their group, above Spain.
• Their star man in qualifying was Mateja Kezman, formerly a Chelsea striker, now at Atletico Madrid partnering our Fernando Torres.
• Their manager is Ilija Petkovic, famed for his faith in young talent.
• Their captain is defender Mladen Krstajic, who has helped keep Serbia & Montenegro one of the toughest defences in world football.
• Nikola Zigic, striker, is currently the worlds tallest professional player at 6’8”. If he doesn’t win headers this year he’s sacked. [Not really]
• The Serbs could possibly falter this year as, although they have a solid defence and an in form front line, they lack in midfield.
• Their world ranking is 44.
• You can get odds of 100/1 for them to win the tournament. [Which still hasn’t dented their confidence]
Group C:
Argentina
Ivory Coast
Serbia & Montenegro
Holland
Serb&Mont Schedule:
June 11th: 15:00: Serb&Mont - Netherlands
June 16th: 15:00: Argentina - Serb&Mont
June 21st: 21:00: Ivory Coast - Serb&Mont
Slash? Them?
Like any other football team, Serbia & Montenegro are no strangers to random touching, on-field groping, and constant team hugs. The lack of Kezman all over the others I put down to him staying loyal to Fer =)
A few others to perv over keep an eye out for:
Forward, Nikola Zigic and his love of ass-defining training outfits.
Midfielder, Dejan Stankovich and his manly ballet skills.
Forward, Danijel Ljuboja and his unique hair…
Defender, Dusan Basta and his incredibly pale skin.
Go on, cheer on the underdogs, you know you want to.
This is Mateja Kezman, using his ‘pretty please’ face to convince you.
Viva la Serbs.