| YUGOSLAVIA
Best finals record:
Runners-up 1960,1968
Qualification record:
Won Group Eight
|
Dejan Stankovic
|
Coach: Vujadin Boskov.
Squad: Ivica Kralj, Alexsandar Kocic, Dragan Zilic, Zelijko Cicovic, Ivan Dudic,
Zoran Mirkovic, Dejan Stefanovic, Drazen Bolic, Nisa Saveljic, Goran Djorovic, Mladen Krstajic,
Miroslav Djukic, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Jovan Stankovic, Slobodan Komljenovic, Vladimir Jugovic, Albert Nadj, Dejan Govedarica, Slavisa Jokanovic, Dejan Stankovic, Darko Kovacevic, Ljubinko Drulovic, Savo Milosevic,
Pedrag Mijatovic,
Mateja Kezman,
Nenad Sakic, Dragan Stojkovic, Nenad Grozdic, Pedrag Djordjevic.
Prospects
Few teams in the 40-year history of the European Championships have had a qualifying campaign as troubled as Yugoslavia's for Euro 2000.
If the departure of coach Milan Zivadinovic after three matches was a kick in the teeth, then NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia resulting in the postponement of four games highlighted far greater problems for the country as a whole.
Passion for football runs high in this part of the world however and as soon as Vujadin Boskov's men negotiated the rockiest of paths to the Lowlands talk immediately turned to whether they could win the tournament.
Boskov himself wasn't slow to play down his side's chances, insisting in December that he had a collection of fine individuals but not, at that point, a great team.
And there lies the key to Yugoslavia's chances.
In France 98 they excelled at times, the likes of Vladimir Jugovic and Pedrag Mijatovic playing some of the best football of the competition against Germany, who found themselves chasing shadows for an hour, and Holland, who needed an Edgar Davids stoppage-time winner to progress to the last eight.
Yet they struggled against supposed whipping boys Iran and the United States, who proceeded to dish out a lesson in the value of teamwork.
Only time will tell whether Boskov has been able to rectify this problem, but the signs are encouraging. Against Croatia in the final qualifying game his side produced a backs-to-the-wall performance in coming from behind to draw 2-2 and clinch qualification at the expense of their rivals.
That in front of 38,000 partisan home fans in Zagreb and after having to play the entire second half with 10 men.
The out-of-character display led to the team being treated as heroes on their arrival back home - but those scenes of celebration in Belgrade will pale into insignificance with what would greet a triumphant return from Holland.
Despite their absence since 1984 - they failed to reach the German finals of '88, were disqualified from appearing in Sweden '92 because of UN sanctions and did not enter four years later - Yugoslavia has a proud history in the tournament.
Finalists in 1960 and 1968, and semi-finalists in 1976, the country is regarded as something of an outsider this time round, ranked seventh of the 16 competing nations.
But the draw has been kind: Spain, Norway and Slovenia provide a terrific opportunity for Yugoslavia to progress to the quarter-finals.
There they are likely to meet either France or Holland.
It is then that the dark horses will need to play at least to the sum of their parts if they are to realise their supporters' dreams.