Serbia were pretty impressive in World Cup qualifiers as they finished on top of their group. The Eagles, however, opted to sack head coach Slavoljub Muslin and hire Mladen Krstajic, who has no managerial experience to guide them through what will be the nation's second World Cup since Montenegro declared independence from them in 2006.
Coach's mission
Krstajic will be naturally simply aiming to at least get out of their group. The last World Cup saw Serbia crash out at the group stage, and to date, the best they've achieved is fourth place, but that was when playing as Yugoslavia. Since becoming an independent nation, they have never gone beyond the group stage, and this year, they have been pitted against Switzerland, Brazil, and Costa Rica. It goes without saying that they will face a tough test ahead, but football is an unpredictable thing and Serbia will certainly fancy their chances at trying to grab second place.
New recruits
Some of the younger players in this 23-man squad include 20-year-old striker Luka Jovic, who could make his debut at this summer's World Cup, as well as fellow youngster Nikola Milenković, who plays his club football for Fiorentina. Lazio's Sergej Milinković-Savić is a rising star to keep an eye on as he's been linked to a host of bigger clubs after his standout performances for the Biancocelesti this past season and will want to have a great performance with the senior side this summer.
Experienced faces
Nemanja Matić, Adem Ljajić, Branislav Ivanović, Dušan Tadić, and skipper Aleksandar Kolarov are among the key veterans who Krstajic will be heavily counting on to help Serbia to try to get to the first knockout rounds - and perhaps beyond - this summer.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojković (Partizan), Marko Dmitrović (Eibar), Predrag Rajković (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Defenders: Antonio Rukavina (Villarreal), Duško Tošić (Guangzhou R&F), Nikola Milenković (Fiorentina), Miloš Veljković (Werder Bremen), Branislav Ivanović (Zenit), Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Milan Rodić (Red Star Belgrade), Uroš Spajić (Krasnodar)
Midfielders: Adem Ljajić (Torino), Nemanja Matić (Manchester United), Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lazio), Marko Grujić (Cardiff City), Filip Kostić (Hamburg), Luka Milivojević (Crystal Palace), Nemanja Radonjić (Red Star Belgrade), Dušan Tadić (Southampton), Andrija Živković (Benfica)
Forwards: Aleksandar Prijović (PAOK), Aleksandar Mitrović (Newcastle), Luka Jović (Eintracht Frankfurt)
