FIFA U-20 - World Cup New Zealand 2015: SERBIA WORLD CHAMPION

The Youth National Team of Serbia (U-20) has become the World Champion in the FIFA U-20 World Cup after winning Brazil in a final match in New Zealand.

The Youth National Team of Serbia (U-20) won the World Champion title in the competition in New Zealand after having winning the U-20 National Team of Brazil in the final match in the extra time, with a score 2:1. After 90 minutes of play the match ended as a draw – 1:1 (0:0).

The goal-scorers were: Mandic 70th min. of play and Maksimovic in the 118th min. of play for Serbia, and A. Pereira after 73 min. of play for Brazil.

In a Third-place match, the U-20 National Team of Mali won Senegal with a score 3:1 (0:0)

The match was played on the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, a pleasant temperature but with occasional rain, in front of about 25,000 spectators, the match referee was: Hamad Al Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia).

Yellow Cards: V. Jovanovic (Serbia), Alef (Brazil)

In the group stage competition, Serbia lost the match against Uruguay (1:0), but won the following matches – 2:0 each, having won Mali and Mexico. In the Round 16 Serbia U-20 National Team outplayed Hungary (2:1) and in the quarterfinals our U-20 National Team won the match against United States after penalties. The U-20 National Team of Serbia won the semifinal match against Mali, after the extra time 2:1.

The Goalkeeper and captain of the national team of Serbia, Predrag Rajkovic was awarded as the best goalkeeper in the World Cup. Sergei Milinkovic-Savic has received the award as one of the three best players of the World Cup in New Zealand. Along with Milinković-Savic the awards were presented to Danilo (Brazil) and Adam Traore (Mali).

After the European Title, which was won in 2013 in Lithuania, Serbia now won the World Cup It is the first World Cup title of some of our National teams since 2006 when Serbia became an independent state.

The Serbian players had a lot of success in the past, in the shirt of the former Yugoslavia, The Youth National Team of Yugoslavia won in 1987 the World Cup in Chile. In Uruguay, in 1930, The First World Cup, the White Eagles reached the third place, and in 1962 in Chile they were fourth. The former “Blue” team were vice-champions of Europe – in 1960 and 1968. Olympic winners – 1960 in Rome. Silver medal at the Olympic Games at three occasions – in London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956. The bronze medal was reached in the Olympics in Los Angeles 1984. the U-21 National Team was European Champion in 1978.

Serbia: Rajkovic – Gajic, Veljkovic, Babic, Antonov – Zdjelar, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic (from 82th min V.. Jovanovic), Maksimovic – Zivkovic, Mandic (from 76th min Gaćinović) – Šaponjić (95th min. Stefan Ilic). Captain Predrag Rajkovic, – Head coach Veljko Paunovic.

The following players were also a part of the team that won the World Cup: the goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who did not play in the World Cup, then Milosevic, Stevanovic, Grujic, Pankov (Did not play) and Filip Jankovic.

Brazil: Jean – Joao Pedro, Marlon, Lucao, Jorge – Danilo, Jaja (from 74th min Malcolm) – Gabriel (from 90th min Alef), Boschillia (from 65th min A. Pereira), Guilherme – Jean Carlos

The Youth National Team of Serbia made an incredible accomplishment. They won the title of World champion in difficult conditions, as they had to play four times the extra time. This fact also shows that this generation of Serbian players has an exceptional mental and physical strength, against strong rivals from four continents. They won the representatives of Europe, Africa, South and North America.

The victory on final tournament in New Zealand makes the history of Serbian football, because of the conditions in which it was done. Young White Eagles started their competition with a defeat against Uruguay, but afterwards, they won all of the matches. The crown success was the victory in the final match against Brazil.

The Head Coach of Serbia, Veljko Paunovic, comparing to the last three matches, selected a slightly changed team against Brazil. He decided for the first time on the championship to start the match with two forwards. Mijat Gaćinović was not in First 11 as Ivan Saponjic got the opportunity from the first minute of play. Other players remained in First 11. The goalkeeper was captain, Rajkovic. Defensive players were: Gajic, Veljkovic, Babic and Antonov. Midfielders: Zdjelar, and right in front of him were Maksimovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Zivkovic played in the right wing position, and Mandic played in the left wing position. Šaponjic was the forward.

Brazili won convincingly in their semifinal match and arrived to the pitch with a lot of confidence. They imposed from the first minute the technical game in which, in certain match phases they had the domination. As the time was going by, young the Serbian players got the balance, and they attacked dangerously in few occasions.

Our players had several opportunities to score a goal long before extra time, but there were also occasions to concede the goal. Nemanja Maksimovic, was in great action, two minutes before the end of the extra time, after a great play by Andrija Zivkovic and scored a goal. It was the start of great celebration and anxiety for our team to endure until the end of the match.

After an exhausting struggle, the trophy was presented to our captain Predrag Rajkovic, who celebrated with his teammates and many Serbian fans in Auckland.

The World Cup in New Zealand brought 24 countries, which played in six groups – four team each in the group stage. Serbia was the best team among them, and it created the most beautiful page in the history of Serbian football.