Serbia · History

The Serbian national soccer team, known as "Orlovi" (The Eagles), has a rich and complex history that stretches from its roots as part of the former Yugoslavia to its current status as an independent nation. Over the years, Serbia has proven to be a competitive force in international soccer, producing some of the best players in the world and achieving significant success in global tournaments.

Origins and the Yugoslav Era

Yugoslavia (1920-1991)

Prior to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Serbian players were part of the Yugoslavian national team. Yugoslavia was one of the most prominent teams in Europe for much of the 20th century. The Yugoslav team made its debut at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. During the following years, the team competed in numerous editions of the World Cup and the European Championship, achieving high levels of success on several occasions.

World Cups

1930: Yugoslavia reached fourth place in the first World Cup in Uruguay, showing its potential from the start.

1962: Yugoslavia reached the semifinals, finishing fourth in Chile. This tournament is remembered for the outstanding performance of players such as Dragoslav Šekularac and Milan Galić.

European Championship

1960: Yugoslavia was runner-up in the first edition of the Eurocup, losing in the final against the Soviet Union.

1968: Yugoslavia again reached the final, this time losing to Italy in a play-off match.

Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006)

After the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, Serbia and Montenegro formed a new entity called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which competed until 2003, when the country changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro. During this period, the national team participated in the 1998 and 2006 World Cup, albeit with modest results.

1998: In France, Yugoslavia (under the name RF Yugoslavia) reached the round of 16, where it was eliminated by the Netherlands. Players such as Siniša Mihajlović and Predrag Mijatović were key in this campaign.

2006: In Germany, competing as Serbia and Montenegro, the team did not advance past the group stage.

Modern Era: Independent Serbia

Independence and First Steps (2006-2010).

Following Montenegro's independence in 2006, Serbia established itself as an independent nation and formed its own national team. The first major tournament it qualified for as Serbia was the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Under the leadership of Radomir Antić, Serbia achieved a remarkable victory over Germany in the group stage, but could not advance beyond this stage.

Euro and Nations League

Serbia has struggled to qualify for the European Championship, failing to reach the finals of the tournament since independence. However, it has regularly competed in the UEFA Nations League, using this tournament as a platform to develop and test new talent.

2018 World Cup.

Serbia qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they were coached by Mladen Krstajić. Although it started with a win over Costa Rica, Serbia failed to advance to the round of 16 after losing to Switzerland and Brazil.

World Cup appearances.

1930: Yugoslavia reached fourth place in the first World Cup.

1962: Yugoslavia again reached the semifinals, finishing fourth.

1998: Yugoslavia reached the round of 16.

2006: Like Serbia and Montenegro, the team did not advance beyond the group stage.

2010: Serbia, as an independent nation, participated in South Africa, beating Germany but not advancing beyond the group stage.

2018: In Russia, Serbia won a group stage match but failed to advance.

Notable Players.

Aleksandar Mitrović.

Mitrović is the top scorer in the history of the Serbian national team, known for his goalscoring ability and physical play. He has been a key figure in both qualifiers and international tournaments.

Dušan Tadić

A talented attacking midfielder, Tadić has been central to Serbia's success in recent years. His creativity and vision have been vital to the team's attack.

Other Notable Players

Nemanja Vidić: Former Manchester United defender, known for his solidity and leadership.

Branislav Ivanović: Former Chelsea player, noted for his versatility and defensive skills.

Sergej Milinković-Savić: Lazio midfielder, known for his technical ability and physical strength.

Outstanding Coaches

Radomir Antić.

Antić coached Serbia at the 2010 World Cup and is remembered for his tactical ability and leadership.

Dragan Stojković

Stojković, a Serbian soccer legend, took over as coach in 2021 and has been instrumental in Serbia's qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.