There are few teams in Europe who have been as consistent in qualification as Serbia. Only one defeat, away in Paris. Serbia have won every one of their other fixtures.
Serbia are virtually assured of advancing, and with two home fixtures to come they should be confident of qualifying as Group 7 winners. France can change that calculation, but the French seem strangely content to wait for Laurent Blanc.
Serbia are not expected to be serious contenders in South Africa. Recent devotees of the game will quickly reference their 6-0 demolition by Argentina in 2006 as proof of their being the poor man of Europe.
But the Serbs are perennial dark horses for a reason. The Danubian School may provide a nice bit of historical multi-media for football commentators, but the Serbs differ from most of their up river neighbours in their application, passion and the passing on of proven partizan techniques to subsequent generations.
Serbia (like the former Yugoslavia) may not provide fashionable performers a la Ronaldo, but they are always a well cut outfit with a penchant for the occasional dab of flair. Always in the top ten of the charts.
We hope not to miss the French Nouvelle Vague, but if you’re in Durban next summer, you may run into some Serbian surf. The blond dude on the surfboard will be Miloš Krasić. Watch out.
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