Djukić hails Serbia 'miracle' workers

Serbia coach Miroslav Djukić said it was a "miracle" his side had qualified for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship after defeating Sweden 5-0 in Trollhattan to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

Babović double
Sweden were favourites to qualify for the tournament in the Netherlands next June after their comprehensive victory in Novi Sad last Friday, but goals from Dragan Mrda and Boško Janković in the first eleven minutes put the tie back in the balance. Stefan Babović scored either side of half-time to put Serbia in control before Miloš Krasić made sure of victory with 66 minutes played.

'Miracle'
"Yes, this is miracle," Djukic told uefa.com. "But our qualification is not a surprise, even if the result and the way we won is. It's easy to say 'I thought we'd do that'. I only asked for a victory, just to show that our defeat in Novi Sad was a bad day. I told the players to forget everything and play for themselves. We saved our face. Now we have nine months to prepare. We are among the best eight teams in Europe and I'm happy because we're still alive. Hard work will give us strength."

'Dream'
Before becoming an independent nation this summer, Serbia had enjoyed recent success in the competition alongside neighbours Montenegro, reaching the final in 2004 and the semi-finals last summer in Portugal. Having qualified for the final tournament in such dramatic fashion, they are aiming high again. "Sometimes, you must dream," Janković said. "Then you have to take your chance and realise those dreams. We hope to do that. We're not getting carried away, but I will say: 'Hello Europe, we want to be champions!' "

'Only the sky is above us'
Babović, whose goals on 35 and 59 minutes turned the course of the tie, added: "Only the sky is above us. I'm more than just happy and proud. Serbian football has a future and we will represent ourselves at the highest level in Holland. Everything is possible if you have self-confidence."