Back from six years in the international wilderness, could Slobodan Santrac's squad be a contender for the title? Or will Yugoslavia disappoint once again?
Dark horses or duds? Yugoslavian players are widely perceived to be among the most individually skillful if not the most skillful in Europe, which habitually leads pundits to dub them ''the Brazilians of Europe.'' A look at the honor roll – Brazil's four World Cups to Yugoslavia's none – is sufficient evidence that all too often they flatter to deceive.
There is a fine line between being a tournament darkhorse – where the Yugoslavs are perennially bracketed – and a dud, and all too often the team has made an early-ish exit. Only twice has Yugoslavia gotten past the quarterfinals (1930 and 1962).
Prior to 1992, the problem was perceived as a lack of motivation. Players could be world-beaters with their clubs, but when an international tournament beckoned, their hearts weren't in it. Six federations comprised Yugoslavia after World War II. An uneasy peace presided until 1992, when civil war broke out as all but two of the states comprising Yugoslavia seceded – some bloodily.
International sanctions imposed against Belgrade after war broke out in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina meant that Yugoslavia, now consisting of Serbia and Montenegro, missed out on the European Championship in 1992 (for which it had qualified – and was a favorite) and 1996, and World Cup USA '94.
Despite uncoordinated pressure from various unaligned groups to have Yugoslavia ousted from France '98 for the bloody struggles in Kosovo, the team stands to make a return after six years in the soccer wilderness.
''Serbs and Montenegrins have always comprised the biggest part of the squad,'' said coach Slobodan Santrac. ''Today [if we were still unified] only four of five Croats would have a chance of making the 22 … We really have some top-class players.''
This time, things promise to be different. The players are aligned to a common goal and they have a point to prove.
''This generation was under an obligation to reach the World Cup – failure would have completely destroyed the future of soccer in this country,'' said striker Predrag Mijatovic.
Santrac sticks with one formation. Coach Santrac has resisted repeated calls for his head since taking over from Ivica Osim in 1994: early results did not go his way; he was accused of using too many old players; and critics cited his modest overseas playing record as reasons for dismissal.
However, Santrac weathered the storm and has worked his way out of the problem of player availability – all but goalkeeper Ivica Kralj play abroad – by sticking with a 4-4-2 formation. He has also effectively created ''A'' and ''B'' squads, the latter comprising less renowned overseas talent and young domestic players in matches leading up to France.
''Most World Cup finalists have the same problem – their players are based in foreign leagues and are trained by club coaches,'' said Santrac. ''So my team plays a system which has been forced on it – in the qualifying stage, 10 of my first choices played in their usual club positions.''
Midfield holds the key. A who's-who of international stars team up in midfield: Dragan ''Pixie'' Stojkovic, one of the most lethal dead-ball players, calls the shots, while AC Milan's Dejan Savicevic, who relishes the big occasion, plays just behind the front two. Lazio's Vladan Jugovic provides the sweat and muscle, while Espanyol's Branko Brnovic and Tenerife's Slavisa Jokanovic can provide the flank threat. But look out for Red Star Belgrade's teen sensation Dejan Stankovic to be the joker in the pack.
Keeper Kralj suspect. Yugoslavia outscored its opponents 41-10 in qualifying and playoff action, but its defense is not impregnable. Sampdoria libero Sinisa Mihajlovic, Goran Djorovic and Miroslav Djukic are all competent enough, but keeper Kralj is less than secure in the nets.
(by Soccer America senior editor Duncan Irving)