Serbia defeated in Klagenfurt
The build up to South Africa hit a bump, in the unlikely shape of New Zealand, for Serbia in Klagenfurt on Saturday.
In a disappointing performance that saw stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic, forced to take a microphone in the second half to calm an angry Serb support. The match was disrupted by fans throwing flares and missiles onto the pitch and a number of supporters ran onto the pitch leading to Vidic pleading for the game to be allowed to continue.
Serbia, facing a side 63 places bellow them in the FIFA rnakings, were already a goal behind in the match by the time the frustrations of their support was displayed.
With unfimiliar line-up in defence and midfield, Serbia found themselves surprisingly behind in the 22 minute by a goal from Shane Smeltz. A long ball that was directed towards goal by Vidic found its way to Smeltz who turned back inside Antonio Rukavina, the right back, before sliding a low shot past, Vladimir Stojkovic inside the right hand post. The concerns over Stojkovic in goal are real for Antic and the Serbian support.
Serbia had plenty of chances to get back into the game but both Zigic and Pantelic were wastefull of the chances that came their way.
The performance of Zoran Tosic was a positive to take from the match as he looked comfortable on the left flank, in the absence of Milan Jovanovic. He had a few impressive runs all ending with a good delivery that was then wasted in front of the New Zealand goals.
Poland are next up for the White Eagles this Wednesday in Kufstein, before the squad heads to Belgrade to face Cameroon in their final warm up game at the Maracanna (Crvena Zvezda Stadium) on Saturday 5th June.
In a disappointing performance that saw stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic, forced to take a microphone in the second half to calm an angry Serb support. The match was disrupted by fans throwing flares and missiles onto the pitch and a number of supporters ran onto the pitch leading to Vidic pleading for the game to be allowed to continue.
Serbia, facing a side 63 places bellow them in the FIFA rnakings, were already a goal behind in the match by the time the frustrations of their support was displayed.
With unfimiliar line-up in defence and midfield, Serbia found themselves surprisingly behind in the 22 minute by a goal from Shane Smeltz. A long ball that was directed towards goal by Vidic found its way to Smeltz who turned back inside Antonio Rukavina, the right back, before sliding a low shot past, Vladimir Stojkovic inside the right hand post. The concerns over Stojkovic in goal are real for Antic and the Serbian support.
Serbia had plenty of chances to get back into the game but both Zigic and Pantelic were wastefull of the chances that came their way.
The performance of Zoran Tosic was a positive to take from the match as he looked comfortable on the left flank, in the absence of Milan Jovanovic. He had a few impressive runs all ending with a good delivery that was then wasted in front of the New Zealand goals.
Poland are next up for the White Eagles this Wednesday in Kufstein, before the squad heads to Belgrade to face Cameroon in their final warm up game at the Maracanna (Crvena Zvezda Stadium) on Saturday 5th June.
