Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe (Balkans) during most of the 20th century. During the 1990s wars in fell apart and separated into 7 countries Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The Yugoslavian national footbal team was very succesful and had great potential for the future. Yugoslav youth national team won FIFA World Youth Championship in 1987 without losing a game. There were guys like Robert Prosinečki, Davor Šuker, Predrag Mijatović... that went on and had great careers. In 1991 Red Star Belgrade won European cup(now UEFA Champions League) with all domestic players exept Miodrag Belodedici who was Romanian but of Yugoslav roots. But unfortunatly it all broke apart and now we can only imagine what would Yugoslavia accomplish.
Here i will show you what in my oppinion would Yugoslavian National Team look now in 2017.
I will only include players that are representing the nations that were part of Yugoslavia so players like Ibrahimović, Xhaka, Shaqiri or Arnautović will not be included.
Goalkeeper
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
I think the Slovenian is currently the best goalie in the Ex-Yu, he reached UEFACL semi-finals with Atletico and had decent season in La Liga and was Simeones first choice. Also last year he took Handanovics spot between the posts in Slovenian national team so for me he is the best right now not to mention his age and that his best days are infront of him.
Defence
CBs
Stefan Savic (Atletico Madrid)
Montenegrian had 49 apperances for Atletico and scored once in La Liga and for national team and i think he is improving every year and that he is still about to reach his best years.
Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Serbian left Chelsea in half season for Zenit and missed the title but he won the Russian Cup. He won everything with Chelsea and his experience would contribute very much to this Ex-Yu team.
LB
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)
Bosnian tank, as they call him, signed a couple days ago for Arsenal. He is great defender who can also go upfront and attack, assist and score. He had good season with Shalke and is consistent in national team being only 23. I consider him to be the best LB at the moment.
RB
Darijo Srna (Shaktar Donetsk)
Experienced Croat, captain of Shaktar and former captain of Croatian national team. He retired from international football but i will include him as he is still active player and in my oppinion best RB for now. I would say that he would also be the best choice for captaining this team.
Midfield
DM
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)
Serbian had great season winning the title with Chelsea and i think he is without doubt best DM in Ex-Yu.
He is very constant playing very good and winning trophies from year to year.
CMs
Miralem Pjanic (Juventus) and Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)
Bosnian had great season winning the double with Juventus and reaching the UEFACL final wich they lost to Real Madrid.
I consider him to be one of the best CMs in the world and he is also very good freekick taker.
Rakitic is having the best years of his career in Barcelona, he missed La Liga and UEFACL titles but won Copa del Rey so decent season for him and like Pjanic i consider him as one of the best CMs in the world.
AM
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
For me the #1 CM in the world. Won back to back UEFACL titles last two years and La Liga this year. All words for this man are redundant.
Attack
CFs
Edin Dzeko(Roma) and Mario Mandzukic(Juventus)
I think they barely played together in Vfl Wolfsburg and we didn't get to see them enough together on the pitch. I don't know would they work out as a duo but i think all defences would be terrifeid during corner kicks and crosses.
Madzukic, alongside Pjanic won the double and scored that stunner in the UEFACL final. Overall good season.
Dzeko won 2nd place with Roma and ended up being Seria A and Europa League top scorer and had best season of his life in terms of stats with 39 goals in 48 games.
The bench
Asmir Begovic(Bournemouth, Bosnia)
Samir Handanovic(Inter, Slovenia)
Aleksandar Kolarov(Manchester City, Serbia)
Dejan Lovren(Liverpool, Croatia)
Matija Nastasic(Shalke, Serbia)
Sime Vrsaljko(Atletico Madrid, Croatia)
Antonio Rukavina(Villareal, Serbia)
Ivan Obradovic(Anderlecht, Serbia)
Mateo Kovacic(Real Madrid, Croatia)
Ivan Perisic(Inter, Croatia)
Edin Visca( İstanbul Başakşehir, Bosnia)
Aleksandar Katai(Alaves, Serbia)
Muhamed Besic(Everton, Bosnia)
Senad Lulic(Lazio, Bosnia)
Stevan Jovetic(Inter, Montenegro)
Aleksandar Mitrovic(Newcastle United, Serbia)
Nikola Kalinic(Fiorentina, Croatia)
Vedad Ibisevic(Herta Berlin, Bosnia)
Marko Pjaca(Juventus, Croatia)
Goran Pandev(Genoa, Macedonia)
Honorable mentions:
Zlatan Ibrahimovic(Sweden), Granit Xhaka(Switzerland), Marko Arnautovic(Austria), Xherdan Shaqiri(Switzerland),Christian Pulisic(USA)...
There it is. This is how i imagine Ex-Yu national team. I hope you like it, comment your oppinions, who would you change, did i forget someone? And what do you think who would be the best coach for this team?
Btw, this is my first post on Steemit, i am still figuring it out but so far so good.
Welcome to Steemit! You made a big mistake, as Bosnia and Herzegovina is just one country, so actually Yugoslavia was split in 7 countries!
I would have added Domagoj Vida as a centre-back and Ante Coric as a midfielder, together with Lazio's Dusan Basta. Also Filip Benkovic can be a bright player for the future.
Thanks man. I am from Bosnia hahah but somehow counted 8. I will edit it.
There was so much good players in consideration ...
Welcome to Steemit. I have a very close friend from Serbia and we discussed couple times with him how strong Yugoslavia footbal team would be if it stayed united.
1 useful tip for you : Write an introduceyourself post. It is always a nice beginning to Steemit.
Thanks, Yugoslavia would be among top competitors for Euro and World Cup titles.
I wil write introducemyself soon.