Medin steeled for 'hardest test'

Serbia and Montenegro showed their steel by qualifying for the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with a 3-0 away win against the Republic of Ireland in their last Elite round match - a game the visitors could not afford to even draw in Dublin. But as coach Sasa Medin contemplates the finals themselves, he believes they have an even tougher task.

European stage
"The hardest test," is how Medin described the finals to uefa.com. "Now, Europe will see the squad. They will play in the final competition, so many TV viewers will watch them. From the point of view of gaining experience, that will be a great present for all of them."

Stronger group
Whereas hosts Luxembourg compete in Group A with Spain, Hungary and Russia, Medin's side were placed in Group B with their opening opponents on Wednesday, the Czech Republic, Belgium and unbeaten Germany. "Our group is much stronger that the other one, everybody says that," Medin declared. "With me as head coach, we have lost five matches. The first two were against Belgium and the Czechs, now we are in the same group. Of course, we changed our look and tactics and I believe that we will be successful in gaining revenge. Germany is a football country and I do not want to mince words on them. We will prepare everything and show that in the right place - in Luxembourg."

'Quality team'
Certainly, Medin is happy with the strength of his squad. "We have a quality team," the coach said. "Like the other EURO participants, you can not be in the final eight if you are not good on every level. Also, it is hard to say now what we will have from this generation for the next five or six years. They must work on themselves, learn and change their negative sides. I believe in them, because they have proved their quality."

'Think big'
So how does Medin feel that team can do? "The semi-final - that's our first target," he said. "I know that is a hard job, but you must think big if you want something big." And he feels his side proved their ability in their recover in Ireland, where they lost in the last minute to opening opponents Israel before defeating Romania and eight-man Ireland. "In football, you can not live if you afraid, losing is part of the game," Medin added. "But I know that we have a quality team, we had a chance and took it."

Boom time
As Serbia and Montenegro are the only nation to have come through qualifying for this summer's U17, U21 and FIFA World Cup finals, it is clearly a boom time for the sport in the recently troubled nation. Medin said: "We have the U17 and U21 generations in their EUROs, the first team will play at the FIFA World Cup and the U19 generation have a chance as qualifying for their EURO. We are unique in Europe in that respect, better than much richer and more famous countries... we have a right to be proud."

Loyalty shown
Medin, now 45, was a one-club player as a midfielder for FK Sutjeska. As a coach, though, he has been similarly loyal to the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro over the last decade. "I started as assistant of the U17 head coach. After that, I worked as coordinator for the youngest selections. Finally, last year, I got a chance to be head coach. I choose the hard way and have self-confidence. Maybe, one day, I shall work for a club."