Yugoslavia counting the cost

Rather than Japan and Korea, square one was the destination of Yugoslavia's footballers after they failed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. Where four years earlier they had grabbed the chance of a return to the world stage at France 98, now they were back on the outside looking in. Just as they had been during four years of international exile between 1992 and '96.

'European Brazil' 
"Counter productive... we are that kind of people," said winger Ljubinko Drulovic after his side finished third in Group Four behind Russia and Slovenia. Few would argue with that assessment when looking for reasons why Yugoslavia, the 'European Brazil', should neglect to follow their South American counterparts to the Far East.

Petkovic departure
This time the identity crisis related not to ethnic origin - as in the pre-1992 days of the Yugoslav federation - but team leadership. Hence the resignation of coach Ilija Petkovic six months into the qualifying campaign. The 56-year-old feared changes at the top of the Yugoslav Football Association (FSJ) would weaken his position.

Power vacuum 
This left a power vacuum which first Milovan Djoric, then a three-man panel led by ex-Milan AC star Dejan Savicevic, struggled to fill. All the while there was talk of an approach to FC PAOK Thessaloniki for trainer Dusan Bajevic. In the event, Savicevic was left to blame a poor show on even poorer refereeing. "We didn't have any luck during qualification but the referees did us damage as well," he complained.

Lost out 
Tenth in the world in December 2001, Yugoslavia had contrived to lose out to lesser-ranked Slovenia in the race for second place in the section. The Slovenes overtook them in their third-last game, when a disputed 90th-minute penalty secured a 2-1 success against Russia - the group winners who were the only team to defeat Yugoslavia, 1-0 in Belgrade.

Drew with Slovenia
Home subsidence was also the problem when Savicevic's men drew 1-1 with Slovenia in their penultimate match. This left the latter needing only to beat the Faroe Islands to seal the runners-up berth and a play-off against Romania. Which they did, 3-0.

Ties postponed
Certainly, any luck going went the moment FIFA postponed Yugoslavia's ties with Russia and the Faroes in October 2000, citing the "tense political situation" with the West. Thereafter Belgrade's finest were playing catch-up against opponents who had the advantage of points on the board. Not an altogether new experience, the fixture backlog: the precedent had been set in 1999 with EURO 2000™ qualifying matches postponed due to the NATO bombing of Serbia.

Sacking of Zivadinovic 
Yugoslavia overcame that particular hurdle, as well as the sacking of coach Milan Zivadinovic, to reach the finals in Holland and Belgium. By drawing 2-2 in Croatia in their final qualifier, they pipped the Republic of Ireland to top spot in Group Eight.

Mixed fortunes 
In fact, EURO 2000™ saw the best and the worst of Yugoslavia ... and that was just the opening match when they recovered a 3-0 deficit to draw with Slovenia, having lost Sinisa Mihajlovic to a second yellow card. Managed by the veteran Vujadin Boskov, they then beat Norway 1-0 before taking part in the game of the tournament: a 4-3 defeat by Spain.

Top scorer
However, the quarter-finals were as far as they would go. The Netherlands thrashed them 6-1 despite Golden Boot winner Savo Milosevic's fifth goal of the competition. Time should also have been up on the international career of Dragan Stojkovic. The player himself said: "Give young players a chance, otherwise we will find ourselves on the road to nowhere."

World Cup finalists 
Stojkovic, then with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus Eight after spells at FK Crvena Zvezda, Olimpique de Marseille and Hellas-Verona FC, had emerged from the international ban to help Yugoslavia to the second round at France 98. Here, Group F wins against Iran and the United States sandwiched a 2-2 draw with Germany before Yugoslav hopes ended with a 2-1 reverse against the Netherlands.

Stojkovic for president 
Yet it was summer 2001 when the thirtysomething midfielder finally discarded the captain's armband after a 1-0 friendly defeat by Japan. And still there was no escaping his presence: the playmaker turned kingmaker in the role of FSJ president.

Export business 
No simple task, this. As long as the country's best, and youngest, talents (notably PSV Eindhoven's Mateja Kezman) continue to leave in numbers, the quality of the domestic game will suffer. And with players scattered across Europe with different habits and training methods, it will be difficult for the national coach to mould them into a team. Yes, Yugoslavia are counting the cost of being Europe's leader in the talent export business.