Unpredictable Serbia! The Balkan country qualified for the World Cup for the third time, but never played the Euros

Serbia was formed in the summer of 2006, until then it played its matches under Yugoslavia or together with Montenegro. Since then, it has qualified for three of the four world tournaments, but the Euros have always eluded the country. Something like this is truly unique in the world.

Serbia has been an independent country since the summer of 2006, the year Montenegro seceded, and this coexistence lasted three years. So we are counting everything from Euro 2008. The 2006 World Cup was the last time the two countries played together.

So let’s move on to the qualifiers for Euro 2008. The Serbs failed to qualify, finishing third in the group of eight, four points behind Poland and three behind Portugal. The reason for this was, for example, the loss to Kazakhstan.

However, the Serbs picked up after the tournament and made it to the 2010 World Cup. Back then, they finished first in the qualifying group, leaving behind a struggling France, who subsequently failed at the tournament.

However, the Serbians did not play very well at the tournament, first losing to Ghana, then winning against Germany, but then falling short against Australia and bidding the tournament farewell. Qualification for Euro 2012 followed, but even that failed.

Serbia finished third again, behind Italy and Estonia. The Serbians needed at least one more point to qualify for the barrage, but they lost to Slovenia in their last match and all was lost. Things didn’t get much better in the next World Cup qualification either.

The Serbs did not advance from that either, finishing third behind the excellent Belgium and Croatia. Many expected that, but the disappointment was the qualification for Euro 2016, which was already expanded and 24 teams looked at it, but not Serbia.

It finished fourth in its group, behind Portugal, Albania and Denmark. It earned only four points, although three were deducted due to a troubled match against Albania. Qualification for the 2018 World Cup, however, turned out very differently.

Serbia finished first in a very even group, leaving Ireland, Wales and Austria behind. In the final tournament, it did win against Costa Rica, but then lost to Switzerland and fell short against Brazil to finish in the group.

The Euros were again cursed, with Ukraine and Portugal fighting hard but not advancing from third place. It played the barrage thanks to the Nations League, but fell to Scotland in the final game after penalty kicks.

A huge stroke of bad luck that turned to good fortune in the current World Cup qualifiers. Serbia fought with Portugal to qualify in their last mutual match and everything was decided by a last minute goal that sent the Balkan team to the final tournament, the Portuguese will have to play a barrage.

Source: Livesport