World Cup Football
Football World Cup > Countries > Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro
Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro
Up until 2003, players from this region represented Yugoslavia. Between 2003 and 2006, two former republics of Yugoslavia played international football as Serbia & Montenegro. Montenegro declared independence from Serbia in 2006. Serbia's team is seen by FIFA as the direct descendant of the Yugoslavia national team. Hence, it inherited of the full status, results, and achievements from Yugoslavia. Best results are 4th in 1930 and 1962. Serbia have qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Trivia
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Yugoslavia were one of the 13 teams in the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
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Their appearance in Germany 2006 will be their eighth participation, with previous appearances in 1930, 1950, 1958, 1962, 1974, 1990, 1998.
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Their best performance was third in 1930. They reached the semi-finals of the first ever World Cup in 1930. An early lead faded into memory as the eventual champions Uruguay crushed them 6-1.
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In 1950, Yugoslavia were eliminated in the group round despite two wins. In 1958 they reached the quarter-finals, where they lost 1-0 to Germany. They took revenge on Germany in 1962 with a 1-0 defeat, but the Czechs proved too strong for them in the semi-final.
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Yugoslavia started the 1950 finals match against Brazil with only 10 players as giant Yugoslavian player Rajko Mitic was knocked by an iron girder as he was leaving the dressing room, leaving a gash in his forehead. The referee refused to delay the game, and when the heavily-bandaged Mitic joined his teammates, his team were already one goal down.
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In 1974 Yugoslavia crashed out of the second round, in 1990 exited in the quarter-finals. In 1998 the Yugoslavs found their match in the last sixteen when Holland beat them 2-1.
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The only player to have scored for two countries is Robert Prosinecki who represented Yugoslavia in 1990 scoring against the United Arab Emirates, and Croatia in 1998 scoring against Jamaica.
- In 2010, Serbia finished first in its first ever qualifying campaign as an independent nation, winning their group ahead of favorites France.
