When it is Aleksandar Mitrovic in the last minute of the qualification for the 2022 World Cup, he defeated Portugal and took Serbia to Qatar, it seemed that his goal at the "Stadium of Light" would illuminate the future of football in that country, but the "eagles" grounding followed very quickly...
Team Dragan Stojković she already disappointed at the World Championship, and regardless of the fact that after that she secured her historic first appearance at the European Championship, it is clear that Dusan Tadic and comrades did not impress anyone with the way they reached Germany.
In two matches, Serbia did not defeat Hungary or Bulgaria, which ended the qualification without a triumph, so the "eagles" "flew away" to Euro 2024 with six points each against Montenegro and Lithuania, with the question being how the duel with our selection under Gorica to be a judge Clemon Turpan called a foul on Marko Vešovic before the first goal Dušan Vlahović.
- Serbia was smuggled in Podgorica - the Serbian media wrote at the time, and the complete impression is that it was "smuggled" even to the European Championship.
FSS believes in Pixi, not the public
Everything that graced Serbia during the World Cup qualifiers disappeared in the following period - compactness, solidity, game for goals more. The "Eagles" struggled in attack, and Stojković often left the goalkeeper behind Vanja Milinković Savić on the shooting range due to the high raised defenses.
The not very convincing games from the qualifiers were followed by two friendly matches during March - a defeat against Russia (4:0) and a minimal victory over Cyprus (1:0). In those moments, even the legendary football player admitted that he felt pressure from the public, he even got into discussions...
- I believe there is criticism, there is no need for me to get into polemics. I'd just like to be told which system, if that's the case, wins? I was taught a lesson - to follow my instinct, as I have been doing until now. They criticize and they have the right, generally my job is to make decisions - Pixi said then.
And while the public thinks one thing, the Football Association believes in Stojković, so it recently signed a new contract with him - until the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to all that, the trip to Germany managed to beautify the victory over Sweden in Solna (3:0) - although it could have conceded a few goals (the goalkeeper shone Predrag Rajkovic), Serbia showed how dangerous it can be when its masters have the day.
The quality is there, is it enough for the second phase?
What is indisputable is the quality of Serbia, since it is a national team with several big stars and great footballers - such as the ace of Juventus Dušan Vlahović, Dusan Tadić, Sergey Milinković Savić, Filipa Kostic, Lazar Samardžić and good old goal scorer Mitrović...
In addition to all that, perhaps the very lack of euphoria, which was always an additional pressure for this selection before major competitions, is Serbia's advantage this time. There are many question marks next to the "eagles", and whether the public was right or FSS, it will be clear already after the match in Gelsenkirchen against the powerful England and two in Munich - with Slovenia and Denmark.
Serbia, as the successor of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro, will officially participate in the European Championship for the sixth time, but also for the first time as an independent country.
The last participation of this country so far was in 2000, when together with Montenegro and led by Stojković as captain, it was part of the Euros in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Serbia and the Euro
Serbia and the Euro
It performs so far: 5 *
The greatest success: Vice-champion (1960, 1968)*
The last Euro: European Championship 2000, quarter-finals*
Most performances on the EP: Dragan Stojković (7)
Most goals in the EP: Savo Milošević (5)
Captain: Dušan Tadić
The first star: Dušan Vlahović
Matches at the EP: England (June 16, Gelsenkirchen), Slovenia (June 20, Munich), Denmark (June 25, Munich)
*As part of Yugoslavia
Bonus video:
