FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Slobodan Santrac is set to lead a tougher, more resilient, Yugoslavian squad in France this summer to add to the riches of raw talent the country continually produces.

Yugoslavia’s last appearance in a major finals was in 1990 when they fell to Argentina in the quarter-finals before civil war in the Balkans prevented them competing on the international stage. Since the redrawing of the map in Europe, Yugoslavia comprises only the combined republics of Serbia and Montenegro. But on the positive side, Santrac now heads a squad hardened by the rigours of war to add to its usual natural talent.

Santrac himself was four-times top scorer in the Yugoslavian league with OFK Belgrade and has 236 domestic goals to his record, making him his country’s all-time top marksman. So it is no wonder he had a great deal of influence in the team scoring 29 times in their 10 World Cup qualifiers. He also earned eight international caps and scored on his debut against Bulgaria in June 1966. He did not, however, come to the international coach’s job till October 1992 when Yugoslavia were already in the international wilderness.

Santrac was at first caretaker boss before being given the job permanently in June 1995. Santrac is optimistic of qualifying from their group in France, comprising Germany, USA and Iran. “Make no mistake,” he says, “in June we will be raring to go. Our mission is to prove that football in Yugoslavia is alive and well. “We were out of circulation for a long time but the players can’t wait to taste a major international tournament again and I honestly don’t forsee us failing.”

And such great midfield players as Vladimir Jugovic of Lazio, veteran striker Dragan Stojkovic, Branko Brnovic of Espanyol and Tenerife’s Slavisa Jokanovic make such predictions a distinct possibility.