Originally, the team itself had been sent solely to make up the numbers – a number of key players such as Aleksandar Đorđević, Igor Berecko, Dejan Vukićević, Igor Pejović, Seho Sabotić and Boban Babunski were either injured or suspended, and Siniša Mihajlović, Vladimir Jugović and Alen Bokšić were told they would gain more by playing in the Yugoslav First League.
Red Star decided that they wanted Robert Prosinečki for a vital cup tie and attempted to have him return home. After FIFA’s ruling that Prosinečki was to stay, he became one of the players of the tournament.
However, this was no one-man team. Prosinečki was also aided by players such as Zvonimir Boban, Davor Šuker, Robert Jarni, and Predrag Mijatović. Defying all expectations from Yugoslav officials, the young stars easily finished top of a group that featured Chile, Australia and Togo.
In the quarter-finals they faced the mighty Brazil – ironic, since Yugoslavians had previously been referred to as the Brazilians of Europe – and defeated them 2-1 through Mijatović and Prosinečk, going on to face East Germany in the semis. East Germany were dispatched 2-1 thanks to with goals from Igor Štimac and Šuker.
West Germany were beaten on penalties – much like Red Star defeating Marseille in the later European Cup triumph – in the final. At their age group, Yugoslavia had the best football team on Earth.
Say what you want about Yugoslavia but this country’s potential in sports and arts was just something else. As much as I respect and understand the wish of Slovenes or Croats to live freely in an independent state of theirs I can’t help but think how cool it would be to have Yugo around today as a peaceful country.
I think Yugoalavia would have won WC and EC if the country had stuck together. So many good players in a big variety.
What is ozil doing in the middle of the first row?
I wish Yugoslavia was still together. There, I said it.
It’s a potato head salad.
Ex Yugoslav countries producing some world class players in football, handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis etc. what is the secret there I always wondered?
Yugoslavia broke apart same way (or a reason) as the music bands do, yes read that again.
Yugoslavia was a strange mess, but they deserved their victory
Legendary coach Mirko Jozic went on to become the first European coach to win a Libertadores Cup.
After leading Yugoslavia to the win, he was hired as head coach for Chile’s Colo Colo and led them to continental glory.
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Originally, the team itself had been sent solely to make up the numbers – a number of key players such as Aleksandar Đorđević, Igor Berecko, Dejan Vukićević, Igor Pejović, Seho Sabotić and Boban Babunski were either injured or suspended, and Siniša Mihajlović, Vladimir Jugović and Alen Bokšić were told they would gain more by playing in the Yugoslav First League.
Red Star decided that they wanted Robert Prosinečki for a vital cup tie and attempted to have him return home. After FIFA’s ruling that Prosinečki was to stay, he became one of the players of the tournament.
However, this was no one-man team. Prosinečki was also aided by players such as Zvonimir Boban, Davor Šuker, Robert Jarni, and Predrag Mijatović. Defying all expectations from Yugoslav officials, the young stars easily finished top of a group that featured Chile, Australia and Togo.
In the quarter-finals they faced the mighty Brazil – ironic, since Yugoslavians had previously been referred to as the Brazilians of Europe – and defeated them 2-1 through Mijatović and Prosinečk, going on to face East Germany in the semis. East Germany were dispatched 2-1 thanks to with goals from Igor Štimac and Šuker.
West Germany were beaten on penalties – much like Red Star defeating Marseille in the later European Cup triumph – in the final. At their age group, Yugoslavia had the best football team on Earth.
source: https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/12/19/yugoslavia-in-the-1990s-the-wonder-team-that-never-was/?fbclid=IwAR3pnJJBlV-jnueY5Zf71QpToMGZF8K6I98SHDPp09b2fy4_cl2XK7VOvZY
Say what you want about Yugoslavia but this country’s potential in sports and arts was just something else. As much as I respect and understand the wish of Slovenes or Croats to live freely in an independent state of theirs I can’t help but think how cool it would be to have Yugo around today as a peaceful country.
I think Yugoalavia would have won WC and EC if the country had stuck together. So many good players in a big variety.
What is ozil doing in the middle of the first row?
I wish Yugoslavia was still together. There, I said it.
It’s a potato head salad.
Ex Yugoslav countries producing some world class players in football, handball, basketball, volleyball, tennis etc. what is the secret there I always wondered?
Yugoslavia broke apart same way (or a reason) as the music bands do, yes read that again.
Yugoslavia was a strange mess, but they deserved their victory
Legendary coach Mirko Jozic went on to become the first European coach to win a Libertadores Cup.
After leading Yugoslavia to the win, he was hired as head coach for Chile’s Colo Colo and led them to continental glory.
Uz Maršala Tita
The westerners destroyed our great country