U20 World Cup Chewing Gum #14: Serbian Glory
“We are a team that plays as one and, in the end, I think the team that wanted most to win this trophy has won it. It will give us confidence for the future but we must continue building, and rebuilding, our football and our society.”
Those words from Serbian coach Veljko Paunovic.
People often talk about how football and sports in general can have such a positive effect on society, affecting change and inspiring the undermined. Brazil has long held football in a near-religious regard and here we see what the sport can offer once more. Serbia is not a poverty-stricken nation but neither is it a flourishing one. It has been torn by war and civil unease for as long as it has existed, devastated during the World Wars, and again during the Yugoslav Wars before splitting in independence with Montenegro in 1992 (Serbia & Montenegro qualified for the 2006 World Cup) and lone independence in 2006. Now they’re Under 20 World Champions, laying the platform for a golden generation to come.
And they’ve been a fantastic team to watch. Maybe not as flowing and expressive as others, but certainly no less passionate. They were supremely well organised and knew exactly how they wanted to play the game. Centre-backs Milos Veljkovic and Srdan Babic along with keeper Pedrag Rajkovic have been superb all Cup, easily the best combination at the back and it’s not like there were a shortage of other contenders. Then you add in the flair and pace of a guy like Andrija Zivkovic on the wing, the power and physicality of Sergej Milinkovic up front and you have a great team. Congratulations to Serbia, an amazing achievement and a fully deserved one. Cannot wait to see these guys playing Champions Leagues and full internationals.
We saw a record number of penalty shoot outs and extra time games at NZ2015. We saw the fourth-highest total goals tally in U20 World Cup history. We saw wins for both Oceania teams, as well as New Zealand finding their way into the knockouts. We saw over 350,000 people fill stadiums across the nation over 22 days of top-class football. Shout out to each and every one of them.
Senegal 1-3 Mali
But first, there was the third and fourth placed playoff. And a wonderful game it was. Lively and full of chances, neither team showed just to make up the numbers despite the disappointments of their semi-finals and despite some horrible weather. An exciting first half came to a scoreless end, but the red card (for a second yellow) before the break of Senegal’s Moussa Ba threatened to spoil the contest. It didn’t. The Senegalese side adjusted to their handicap by playing direct and fast. Then in the 64th minute, Senegal scored the opening goal and it seemed like the upset was on. Up stepped Adama Traore. A few hours away from being named the Player of the Tournament, the diminutive playmaker stepped up and fantastically curled a free kick into the top corner with his glorious left book. Ten minutes later he beat a few defenders with a sharp turn and beat the keeper with a thunderous shot. Diadie Samassekou added a stamp to the envelope in injury time to give Mali third place and cap off a great tournament. And we didn’t even get to talking about the fact that both teams missed late penalties.
Brazil 1-2 Serbia (AET)
Yep, Serbia. Under 20 World Cup Champions. Defying the odds and winning late once again. Three of their knockout victories came in extra time, the other one came by penalties. They’re a team that never said die, who never gave an inch, so sure of themselves and their abilities and they were rewarded with the ultimate prize.
Luckily the weather cleared up a fair bit for this game. Still, the opening periods were definitely in the typical final tradition of Figuring Each Other Out. Brazil did their best to get Gabriel Jesus involved, spreading the ball around and exhibiting flawless accuracy and impeccable first touches. Yet Serbia were fine with that so long as they stayed clear of their penalty area. They let them pass it around them without ever getting committed or dragged out of place. Andrija Zivkovic whipped in a dangerous corner that Sergej Milinkovic headed at the keeper, and aside from that their chances were fairly limited. Brazil had a couple efforts, but the Serbians kept them at bay.
Brazil continued to dominate the ball in the second half, but they should have fallen behind when fullback Milan Gajic broke into the box only to shoot hard at the keeper instead of crossing it. Warning heeded, on came Andreas Pereira just minutes later (for Boschilia, who was not happy to be subbed off). Except that just a few more minutes later, Serbia actually did score. Slightly against the run of play, but that’s how they’d planned it. Nemanja Maksimovic chipping a cross from one corner to the six yard box to the other, where Stanisa Mandic had made an untracked run. 1-0 to Serbia.
Then it was Pereira’s turn. Picking up the ball with nothing happening for him on the left, he slipped it up a few gears to jink between three defenders into the box and drive the ball across the outstretched keeper, who got a hand to it but couldn’t stop it. An amazing solo goal just when it seemed Brazil might have run out of ideas. That spurred them on, however there was no breaking the Serbian defence. Even into extra time the pace of the Brazilians was always dangerous, there was just no way through. Both keepers made fine saves. And then with the game poised for spot kicks, Serbia launched a counter attack worthy of winning a World Cup final. Dispossessing Brazil near their own penalty area, quickly breaking down the wing, substitute Stefan Ilic showing his heels before feeding the ball square on halfway to Zivkivic, who drew in the attentions of Lucão which created room for Maksimovic to run in behind him, beating the offside trap and then beating the keeper for a historic goal. There was no time for Brazil to hit back. Serbia claimed the title and the celebrations were wild.
The Main Men
Sergej Milinkovic (Serbia) – There’s no trick to the final set of Main Men. Not only was Milinkovic a World Cup winner, but he was also the winner of the Bronze Ball for the third placed player of the tournament. He’s a big lad and a beast in the air, spearheading so much of what this Serbian side were able to do going forward.
Danilo (Brazil) – Winner of the Silver Ball. So often overshadowed by the many flashy stars that player further forward and scored the goals, you could make an argument that Brazilian captain Danilo was their most important player of all. He anchors their midfield with poise and vision, exactly the type of player that their senior team needs to desperately.
Adama Traore (Mali) – Ladies and gentlemen, your NZ2015 Golden Ball winner. Four goals and three assists at the cup, the final game may have been his best of all. The Lille youngster has already been capped as a full international, this won’t be the last time you hear from him.
