Socceroos should know their Serbian opponents
By AlexMilic, 7 Dec 2009 AlexMilic is a Roar Rookie
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Many people here in Australia don’t have a clue about the Serbian football team so they go on about how they are beatable and not going to be a problem for the Socceroos, who have two or three top players playing for rather moderate European clubs. I would like to get you familiar.
The Serbian Backline
Aleksandar Lukovic (LB) (Udinese)
The little wingback has been in excellent form for his Serie A club and has confirmed his spot has the teams left back ahead of Lazio’s Aleksandar Kolarov. The player posses great pace and a great cross.
Ivica Dragutinovic (RB) (Sevillia)
He has been part of the national team for nearly ten years. Was the captain of Standard Liege before moving to Sevilla where he is a regular. He has assisted allot of goals for Serbia thanks to his crosses on the right and left side. Produces many opportunities for the Serbian team.
Branislav Ivanovic (CB) (Chelsea)
Had his breakthrough season last year and has a cult status at the blue side of London for his two goals at Anfield last season in the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti says he is the most fit fullback who is always concentrated on the game and is one of the best fullbacks he has ever worked with. May have an off day but hes only human.
Nemanja Vidic (CB) (Manchester UTD)
No introduction needed for one of the best fullbacks in world football. Cahill recently said that Vidic is the hardest defender he has ever come up against “He is a man mountain” Cahill said for Four Four Two magazine.
The other top defenders the team has:
Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio)
Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders
Milos Krasic (RW) (CSKA MOSCOW)
The player is getting better and better look him up on youtube and you will see! He is the Russian teams best player and is on the cards of Manchester UTD and AC MILAN. He was a revelation in the qualifiers and will be a big threat at the WC.
Milan Jovanovic (LW) (Standard Liege)
The team top scorer in qualifying and Standard’s best player. He is a speedy player who sets up his team mates and also has an excellent eye for goal. Jovanovic was amazing in qualifying and is one of Serbia’s best players at the moment.
Nenad Milijas (CM) (Wolverhampton)
Signed for the EPL club this season but has not been used much. He was a key player in midfield for Serbia during qualifying. Scored against the French and scored a screamer against Bolton last night in the EPL. He lacks pace but his left foot covers for it.
Dejan Stankovic (CM) (Internazionale)
The captain of the Serbian team has a different role in the national side to his attacking role for club side Inter. One of Serie A’s best players. He has had an excellent season so far scoring some absolute screamers!. His experience is invaluable. Played at the ’98 and ’06 World Cup’s.
The other top midfielders:
Zdravko Kuzmanovic (CM) (VFB STUTTGART)
formerly of Fiorentina where he played over 80 games. Only 22 he is now the key in Stuttgart’s midfield and will be one of the best midfielders the country has seen in the years to come. A pass and go player, doesn’t take to much time on the ball. His shooting is another strong part of his game.
Gojko Kacar (CM) (Hertha Berlin)
A top buy for the German Club. He has proven himself and is on the verge of leaving his club who has lost all of its ambition. The player is very strong and has a great shot on him but the key to his game is his passing. One to look out for in the years to come.
Strikers
Marko Pantelic (Ajax)
Sets up more goals then he scores, he is more of a supporting striker for the go to man Nikola Zigic. Plays with allot of energy and passion, he has opened the floodgates to his Ajax career.
Nikola Zigic (Valencia)
The tall target man has not been given a real chance at Valencia but has proven himself in the Spanish League with Racing being their top marksmen for two seasons. He is still held with high regard amongst European Clubs. Will be hard to mark for the Socceroos, Zigic is easily frustrated when things are not going his way.
The others:
Danko Lazovic (PSV)
These players have been the key to Serbia’s qualification campaign and the resurrection of Serbian football. The team is very strong in defence and on the wings.
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Tom said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:18am | Report comment
Certainly a very good team. Although I haven’t actually heard anyone in Australia talking them down, so I’m not sure where that comes from.
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
This sounds like it was written by an eight year old, maybe the Major should go back to Green Street or Delije or wherever it is he’s from this week and leave the article writing to my grade 2 neice.
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
It’s a quick article killer tomatoes u arrogant piece of you know what if you dont like it dont comment simple as that.
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
isus marija ustasha croatia
Krasic is a good player, Srbija have a very solid starting defence, and Kacar looks a good prospect at defensive midfield (apparently interesting Spurs and Arsenal). Lack a bit in the striking department, but still better than Australia there. Stankovic is still class and Subotic and Kuzmanovic are good back ups for their positions. Schwarzer is easily a better ‘keeper than anything they offer though.
Another worry for Australia is that Balotelli is yet to confirm wether he will be an Italian or Ghanaian international (can’t really blame him reconsidering with some of the abuse he gets in Italy) and so may be a Ghana starter by the time of the WC.
dasilva said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:36am | Report comment
Seriously when has anyone talk them down. People are calling this the group of death because the rate serbia.
Mushi said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:42am | Report comment
I haven’t heard anyone talk them down? If anything we’ve disregarded Ghana (who also have ladles of quality) by suggesting that the final game against Serbia will be the crucial one, which insinuates that we’ll have beaten Ghana.
AndyRoo said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
I havent seen anything but respect given to Serbia because of the clubs their players play at
Inter, Chelsea and Man Utd…..
Pippinu said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
Alex
A timely article I think – well done – I reckon most Australians would not realise just how strong Serbia really is (or only remember the spanking they got from the Argies last time round).
On a whole, the response to our group is mixed: some see it as a very tough group (which it is), others appear to be quite confident about ending up top two – but I’m unsure on what that confidence is based.
Some have even suggested Germany is not up to it!!!
I would put our chances of qualifying at around 25% – and even that might be a touch optimistic.
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:21am | Report comment
Serbia 2010 is a much better side than Serbia 2006, players like Ivanovic, Vidic, Subotic, Lukovic, Kacar, Kuzmanovic, Krasic were all too young to be properly in the squad or at their best. In fact, I think only Vidic from that list was even in the overall squad for the torunament.
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:20am | Report comment
It just angers me when i see people like Jason Culina who has no clue say things like the team is unknown and the players and so on. Does the guy even watch football or does he just sit back and cruise through the Gold Coast. For starters he shouldn’t of even joined the A-League but if you ask me he probably wasn’t in the plans of the new PSV coach so he came here to get some good cash and so on. I think the socceroos need to give more youngsters a go! build the team up in 2010 so they get some excellent experience for 2014/2018. IT was a complete joke seeing him on the World Game yesterday!
dasilva said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Culina wasn’t the only person
I think Cahill also said he doesn’t know much about the Serbian team.
Although you can’t really blame them. I’m quite sure the EPL followers would only know Serbia for Vidic and Ivanovic . The UCL follower may add Stankovic to that list and thats about it. Not everyones are fan of Serbia monitoring their form or follow all major leagues in Europe (generally people pick one major league and that’s it).
Although I think you are bit harsh about Culina. Culina was a regular player for PSV last season and was voted as the second best right back of the eredivisie. If he wanted to, he would have stayed with PSV. I also think that Culina is a bit overrated as a central midfielder but perhaps he’s a decent right back. Wouldn’t mind a swap with Wilkshire.
Pippinu said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
these are my early odds for who will qualify from our group (noting that two spots mean the percentage total to 200%):
Germany 95%
Serbia 45%
Ghana 35%
Austalia 25%
vladimir said | December 7th 2009 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
is this a gambling or a football forum…
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
gambling is part of football if you have not noticed major football teams around the world are sponsored by sporting bet companies. Whats wrong vladimir? sta ti je
vladimir said | December 7th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
i just don’t get who cares what some poopinu claims are his odds… they have no meaning at all…
i disagree betting is a part of football… i’ve never seen odds out on a football field…
by the way… if you don’t want to write in english don’y bother conversing with me major…
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
if you want to have an argument then dont comment at all go on youtube. Oh yes I am sorry for writing in my language you must not understand it
Tom said | December 7th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
95% is ridiculously high for Germany, Pip. They’re a very good team, but they’re not unbeatable. This is the toughest world cup group they’ve had since unification.
Lop 15% off Germany and add 5% to each of the other countries.
The Bishop said | December 7th 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Group D odds for qualification:
Germany – 1.17
Serbia – 2.1
Ghana – 2.25
Australia – 2.62
estragon said | December 8th 2009 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
gambling is for morons
The Bishop said | December 8th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
estragon, I completely agree, I have never and will never gamble on anything, however in the context of using odds as a yardstick to determine our chances of making it out of the group stage, they are interesting.
estragon said | December 8th 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
when i get home tonight after having faked it through another day i’m going to get souped up then head down the road to my favourite brothel and ‘bury the bishop’ as they say…
danny said | March 8th 2010 @ 12:58am | Report comment
germany 80%
serbia 60%
ghana 55%
australia 5%
Anyone who thinks australia will qualify, doesnt know anything about soccer full stop! Im not even gona bother replying to people who post replies. The aussies are goin there for a holiday thats it!
Mxjosh said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
We’re in a tough group, there is no discounting that. being realistic Germany are a step above Australia, Ghana and Serbia but not unbeatable, However I think the remaining three are about on par with each other. Ijust fear for Australias ability to break down such a staunch backline as Serbias or Germany’s. We have a good record against Ghana but that will count for nothing come world cup time and lets be honest we have no one who has the quality of an Essien or a Stankovic. Having said that It will be an intruiging group to say the least and Australia can be quietly but very cautiously confident
danny said | March 8th 2010 @ 1:01am | Report comment
stupid analysis, sorry mate you have no idea and anyone that agrees with your comments has no idea.. australia has f all hope.
vladimir said | December 7th 2009 @ 9:57am | Report comment
the majority of players in the serbian team are there clubs best player according to milic… no wonder pippinu is impressed…
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Its all true i follow the players and teams and watch the games. Kacar is Hertha Berlin’s best player, kuzma is leading the way for stuttgart, krasic is world class and will certainly join AC Milan or Man UTD in the next transfer window. Jovanovic is Standard Liege. The Serb players are on fire at the moment lets hope they can raise the bar come the World Cup. But Serbia is always unpredictable so who knows what you are gonna get same goes for Germany and Ghana and the Socceroos.
Spanner said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Alex, Nice work in giving a summary of what the socceroos will come up against. Considering you know the playes well why not give a Player vs Player summary and ranking for each of the teams key players. I am assuming you know the Socceroos as well. It would be interesting to see how they compare to each other. What about the Serbian keeper?
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
Spanner I will do it soon. The Serb keeper Vladimir Stojkovic of Sporting Lisbon can be clumsy but can also pull off some good saves, he has struggled to earn a first team spot in the past few years and thats a major problem. I will do the player v player summary’s soon.
Punter said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:03am | Report comment
Can you be unbias, considering some of the background of the players like Cullina.
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Im not bias if you are gonna be saying things like that then whats the point of calling it sports opinion its my opinion and lets not turn this into politics i have nothing against Croats. I’m not a fan of the Culina boys because they are overrated and their opinions and analysts are pathetic. And for some reason Culina played all the last world cup games for Australia and Skoko who was by far Australia’s best player leading to the world cup didn’t even get a minute. Just not a fan of Culina simple as that mate
Punter said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
You would have to ask Guus why he didn’t play Skoko, I agree he was one of better players. But I would find it hard to argue with him because he suceeded where before we only had dreams. Cullina also had a great WC.
AlexMilic said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:34am | Report comment
The key to the socceroos 2010 campaign would have to be an experienced coach! Pim has done well by qualifying the team but what next? the friendlies will be crucial and yes we are in one of the toughest groups! the experienced players will be the key to the team overall they have to motivate the youngsters and encourage them as much as they can!
vladimir said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
what a riduculous statement about culina by the major… up until he came back to aust he was one of aust’s best players including in the last world cup… to deny this is bias not opinion…
Killer_Tomatoes said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Major, when will you be leaving Adelaide to rejoin Delije on the North Stand of your beloved Marakana?