Can the White Eagles soar
Four months out from kick off in Pretoria, the hopes of coach Radomir Antic, “my ambitions are much bigger than qualification” look to be shaky.
After an impressive qualification campaign for the White Eagles, the world cup draw and problems facing the squad have since deflated ambitions.
After being drawn once more in the world cup “group of death” along with Germany , Ghana and Australia, the key players seem to not be playing regular football.
Antic’s prefered formation of 4-4-2 is based on a familair spine of 5 players, most of which are having problems with their club sides. Can he confidently pick his best side or will he be hampered by the club form of his stars?
Vladmoir Stojkovic, the number one goalkeeper is currently on load at Wigan Athletic. He joined Sporting Club in 2007 but due to poor form he fell out of favour quickly and has seen limited action at club level since. He does hold 29 caps and is the first choice keeper in the squad, having played 8 out of 10 qualifiers, and travelled to Germany with the squad in 2006.
Namanja Vidic, when fit, has been a regular over the last 5 years in the side. With 44 caps to his name he was part of the famous four defence that qualified for the last tournament in 2006. Due to a knee injury sustained in the build up to the tournament the team missed his physical presence in defence conceding 10 goals in 3 games, crashing out with 3 defeats. He has not featured for Manchester United since the 30th December with an injury that the FSS are still seeking clarity on.
The leader of the team is 85 times capped Dejan Stankovic. He is ready to return from a 5 week absence due to a knee injury with Internazionale. He has been in fine form this season with the Serie A club and is the man that makes the Serbs tick. When Stankovic plays they do not lose.
In what will be his third and possibly final World Cup appearance a lot will be expected from the captain.
The main attcaking threat remains 6’8” striker, Nikola Zigic. With 13 goals in 41 games, Zigic is Antic’s leader of the line when playing 4-4-2 or the more reserved 4-5-1. At the last World Cup he was back up to the more experienced Milosovic and Kesman, featuring only in the final group game against Ivory Coast when he scored the opening goal of the game. His club career has been mixed since 2006 from highs with Racing Santander to the lows of Valencia, where he is currently suspended after moking his club coach whilst on the subs bench.
The player giving Antic the least worry must be the flying winger, Milos Krasic who is currently with CSKA Moscow. A much coveted player who has been recently linked with moves to Manchester United, Milan and Bayern Munich. With the Russian season running March to November, he has enjoyed a close season break over the winter and will be well rested when the new Russian season start on 12 March.
He played in all 10 qualifiers, the only member of the squad to do so, scoring twice and was given the Golden Ball by the FSS, for 2009 as the best Serbian footballer.
The 3rd of March sees the White Eagles head to Algiers to face Algeria in a friendly game as part of final preparations before the World Cup and will give Antic the chance to spend some much needed time with his squad.
After an impressive qualification campaign for the White Eagles, the world cup draw and problems facing the squad have since deflated ambitions.
After being drawn once more in the world cup “group of death” along with Germany , Ghana and Australia, the key players seem to not be playing regular football.
Antic’s prefered formation of 4-4-2 is based on a familair spine of 5 players, most of which are having problems with their club sides. Can he confidently pick his best side or will he be hampered by the club form of his stars?
Vladmoir Stojkovic, the number one goalkeeper is currently on load at Wigan Athletic. He joined Sporting Club in 2007 but due to poor form he fell out of favour quickly and has seen limited action at club level since. He does hold 29 caps and is the first choice keeper in the squad, having played 8 out of 10 qualifiers, and travelled to Germany with the squad in 2006.
Namanja Vidic, when fit, has been a regular over the last 5 years in the side. With 44 caps to his name he was part of the famous four defence that qualified for the last tournament in 2006. Due to a knee injury sustained in the build up to the tournament the team missed his physical presence in defence conceding 10 goals in 3 games, crashing out with 3 defeats. He has not featured for Manchester United since the 30th December with an injury that the FSS are still seeking clarity on.
The leader of the team is 85 times capped Dejan Stankovic. He is ready to return from a 5 week absence due to a knee injury with Internazionale. He has been in fine form this season with the Serie A club and is the man that makes the Serbs tick. When Stankovic plays they do not lose.
In what will be his third and possibly final World Cup appearance a lot will be expected from the captain.
The main attcaking threat remains 6’8” striker, Nikola Zigic. With 13 goals in 41 games, Zigic is Antic’s leader of the line when playing 4-4-2 or the more reserved 4-5-1. At the last World Cup he was back up to the more experienced Milosovic and Kesman, featuring only in the final group game against Ivory Coast when he scored the opening goal of the game. His club career has been mixed since 2006 from highs with Racing Santander to the lows of Valencia, where he is currently suspended after moking his club coach whilst on the subs bench.
The player giving Antic the least worry must be the flying winger, Milos Krasic who is currently with CSKA Moscow. A much coveted player who has been recently linked with moves to Manchester United, Milan and Bayern Munich. With the Russian season running March to November, he has enjoyed a close season break over the winter and will be well rested when the new Russian season start on 12 March.
He played in all 10 qualifiers, the only member of the squad to do so, scoring twice and was given the Golden Ball by the FSS, for 2009 as the best Serbian footballer.
The 3rd of March sees the White Eagles head to Algiers to face Algeria in a friendly game as part of final preparations before the World Cup and will give Antic the chance to spend some much needed time with his squad.
