At the start of 1990s, former Yugoslavia Republic had their 2nd golden generation (First one was 1960s – made a WC SF & 2 EURO Finals). Some of the best young talents were part of that team which lost to Argentina in 1990 QF in Tie Breaker. Red Star Belgrade was the base of that golden generation and they won European Cup (equivalent to Champions’ League) with almost entire squad from domestic resources. Then the Civil war started and Yugoslavia was stripped of 1992 EURO; Denmark (2nd to them in qualifying group) went on to replace them and ended up winning the Cup.
That Yugoslav team was broken into several pieces, many of the young players left for other countries, yet Croatia made the WC of 1998 SF. Some of the best players were in their early 20s, and never fulfilled their International potential – Stojkovic (25), Pancev (24), Brnovic (26), Bokcis (20), Prosinecki (21), Jarni (21), Savicevic (23), Suker (22), Boban (22), Katanec (26), Sinisa Mihajlovic (21), Predrag Mijatovic (21) ….. That was a wonderful generation, who could have won WC or EURO for sure in next 10-12 years. These players went on to club glory in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and England. Besides, players like Zlatan, Xhaka, Valon Behrami, Adnan Janujaj, Skordan Mustafi , Shaqiri …. Could have played for Yugoslavia.
This year, 2 of the former Yugoslav Republic have made the WC, and another 2 narrowly missed out. I was going through the 7 Squads of recent time and thinking of a combined squad – though soccer doesn’t work that way, still it’s worth have a look at those 23 men squad.
GK:
1. Jan Oblak (Slovenia, Athletico Madrid),
13. Asimir Begovic (B&H, Bournemouth),
23. Samir Ujkani (Kosovo, Cremonese)
Right Back:
2. Sime Vrsaljko (Croatia, Athletico Madrid),
15. Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Zenit St. P’burg)
Left Back:
3. Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia, Roma),
16. Sead Kolasinac (B&H, Arsenal)
Centre Back:
4. Dejan Lovren (Croatia, Liverpool),
5. Stefan Savic (Montenegro, Athletico Madrid),
18. Matija Nastasic (Serbia, Schalke 04)
19. Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia, Fiorentina),
Mid-fielder:
6. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, Barca),
7. Miralem Pjanic (B&H, Juventus),
8. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia, Lazio)
10. Luka Modric (Croatia, Real),
11. Ivan Pericis (Croatia, Inter)
12. Mateo Kovacic (Croatia, Real),
14. Nemanja Matic (Serbia, MU),
21. Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia, Inter)
Forwards:
9. Edin Dzeko (B&H, Roma),
17. Stevan Jovetic (Montenegro, Monaco),
20. Mario Mandzukic (Croatia, Juventuas),
22. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia, New Castle United)
Manager: Nico Kovac (Croatia, Bayern Munich)
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, this the starting line-up
1. Oblak
2. Vrsaljko 4. Lovren 5. Savic 3. Kolarov
6. Rakitic 8. M’vic - Savic
7. Pjanic 10. Mordic © 11. Pericis
9. Dzeko
Roughly, that starting XI is worth over half a billion Euro, and that squad around E750mn.
Where this squad ranks for this WC? My hunch is, with a little turn of luck, they actually can win it – this squad is that good and the Manager is probably the most promising young manager around.
That Yugoslav team was broken into several pieces, many of the young players left for other countries, yet Croatia made the WC of 1998 SF. Some of the best players were in their early 20s, and never fulfilled their International potential – Stojkovic (25), Pancev (24), Brnovic (26), Bokcis (20), Prosinecki (21), Jarni (21), Savicevic (23), Suker (22), Boban (22), Katanec (26), Sinisa Mihajlovic (21), Predrag Mijatovic (21) ….. That was a wonderful generation, who could have won WC or EURO for sure in next 10-12 years. These players went on to club glory in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and England. Besides, players like Zlatan, Xhaka, Valon Behrami, Adnan Janujaj, Skordan Mustafi , Shaqiri …. Could have played for Yugoslavia.
This year, 2 of the former Yugoslav Republic have made the WC, and another 2 narrowly missed out. I was going through the 7 Squads of recent time and thinking of a combined squad – though soccer doesn’t work that way, still it’s worth have a look at those 23 men squad.
GK:
1. Jan Oblak (Slovenia, Athletico Madrid),
13. Asimir Begovic (B&H, Bournemouth),
23. Samir Ujkani (Kosovo, Cremonese)
Right Back:
2. Sime Vrsaljko (Croatia, Athletico Madrid),
15. Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Zenit St. P’burg)
Left Back:
3. Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia, Roma),
16. Sead Kolasinac (B&H, Arsenal)
Centre Back:
4. Dejan Lovren (Croatia, Liverpool),
5. Stefan Savic (Montenegro, Athletico Madrid),
18. Matija Nastasic (Serbia, Schalke 04)
19. Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia, Fiorentina),
Mid-fielder:
6. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, Barca),
7. Miralem Pjanic (B&H, Juventus),
8. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia, Lazio)
10. Luka Modric (Croatia, Real),
11. Ivan Pericis (Croatia, Inter)
12. Mateo Kovacic (Croatia, Real),
14. Nemanja Matic (Serbia, MU),
21. Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia, Inter)
Forwards:
9. Edin Dzeko (B&H, Roma),
17. Stevan Jovetic (Montenegro, Monaco),
20. Mario Mandzukic (Croatia, Juventuas),
22. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia, New Castle United)
Manager: Nico Kovac (Croatia, Bayern Munich)
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, this the starting line-up
1. Oblak
2. Vrsaljko 4. Lovren 5. Savic 3. Kolarov
6. Rakitic 8. M’vic - Savic
7. Pjanic 10. Mordic © 11. Pericis
9. Dzeko
Roughly, that starting XI is worth over half a billion Euro, and that squad around E750mn.
Where this squad ranks for this WC? My hunch is, with a little turn of luck, they actually can win it – this squad is that good and the Manager is probably the most promising young manager around.
