Tošić out to fulfil Serbia promise

Zoran Tošić's eyes light up as he sets sight on the official UEFA European Under-21 Championship match ball for the first time. The Serbia winger is eager to test it out, flicking it from one foot to the other at Manchester United FC's Carrington training ground at the end of April. A smile darts across his face. Tošić may now be a full international and making his way with the English champions, but the U21 Championship was where he made his name and remains close to his heart.

Final chance
"I can't wait for it to start," he told uefa.com. "It will be a very good experience to play in the championship again and I'm very happy because of that." The 2007 tournament changed the course of Tošić's career. Then a little known attacking midfielder for even less well known Serbian side FK Banat Zrenjanin, he came on as a substitute in the 2007 final and impressed playing out of position at left-back, setting up Serbia's only goal with a typically marauding run in their 4-1 defeat by the Netherlands. The diminutive wide man has not looked back since.

'Good experience'
A move to FK Partizan followed and almost immediately a step up to the senior national side. A self-confessed United fan, Tošić completed his dream move to Old Trafford in January. Though largely confined to the reserves since, he is happy to bide his time, learning about the English game with the goal of breaking into the first team next season. England is a new adventure, but as the 23-year-old passes a sharp-shooter's judgement over the U21 match ball, he is relishing the chance to resume an old one. "The championship is very good experience for every young player," he said. "I have to practice, to get stronger, to get faster, to be better in all aspects and I feel the U21 championship will help me and I can prove I'm a United player."

High ambitions
For now United can wait as Serbia take centre stage. After losing in the 2007 final Tošić is determined to go one better in Sweden. "The people from Serbia expect us to do well and we hope we can, but it is one thing to talk about winning, we have to go there and prove we are the best." While wary of raising expectations too high, Tošić has good reason to feel confident. Serbia, in their many different guises, have a strong track record in the competition and along with Italy are the only nation competing in their fourth successive final tournament. With ten full internationals in the squad and plenty of experience at this level, there will be no inferiority complex when they kick off their Group A campaign against the five-time champions Azzurrini on 16 June.

Italy test
The two sides also began the 2007 final tournament against each other with Serbia emerging surprise 1-0 winners. A similar result this time would not be a shock. "In the last game we were much better than Italy and we showed that to everyone," said Tošić, whose side will also meet Sweden and Belarus in their section. "Not just Italy but the other [group] games against the Czech Republic and England we played well and we hope we'll play the same way in this championship." Reputation, Tošić points out, counts for nothing. "What is important is how you come into the game. If you are concentrated and every player wants to win that is all that is important, not names."