SRCE JE UZ SRBIJU, ALI FAVORITI SU NEMCI MLADEN KRSTAJIĆ, SELEKTOR FUDBALSKE REPREZENTACIJE SRBIJE MLADEN KRSTAJIĆ, COACH OF THE SERBIA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
HEART WITH SERBIA, BUT GERMANS ARE FAVOURITES
P rivilegiju da budu među 32 najbolje ekipe na Mu- ndijalu imaju fudbaleri Sr- bije. Predvođeni selekto- rom Mladenom Krstajićem, orlovi će pokušati da prođu grupu u kojoj se nalaze sa Brazilom, Švajcarskom i Kostarikom. Biće to težak put, ali na muci se poznaju junaci. Krstajić je na mesto selektora na- cionalnog tima došao posle turbu- lentnog perioda krajem prethodne godine, kada je sporazumno raski- nuta saradnja sa Slavoljubom Mu- slinom koji je reprezentaciju odveo na planetarni šampionat. Tada se pr- vi put sadašnji selektor Srbije našao u žiži javnosti. Drugi put mediji su bili više nego inače zainteresovani za Krstajićeve izjave kada je odlu- čio da pred prijateljske utakmice u martu zameni kapitena nacionalne selekcije. Umesto na ruci Branisla- va Ivanovića, traka se sada nalazi kod Aleksandra Kolarova. Za početak Mladen nam otkriva kako je biti selektor u zemlji u kojoj se svi razumeju u fudbal i svi imaju poneki savet. – Imam cilj, ideje, stručan i kva- litetan tim saradnika. Spreman sam da se izborim sa svakom vrstom pri- tiska, koji je sastavni deo fudbala, kako bismo sve zamišljeno sprove-
Tekst / Words: Jelena Medić Fotografije / Photography: Aleksandar Dimitrijević
S erbia’s footballers have the privilege of being among the world’s 32 best teams for the World Cup. Led by head coach Mladen Krstajić, Serbia’s “Eagles” will try to qualify from a group that also includes Brazil, Switzerland and Costa Rica. It will be a difficult journey, but it is through struggles that heroes are recognised. Krstajić took over the position of nation- al team head coach following a turbulent pe- riod late last year, when cooperation was ter- minated by mutual agreement with Slavoljub Muslin, who secured the national team’s qual- ification for the world cup, was replaced. That was the first time Serbia’s current head coach appeared in the public eye. The second time, the media were more than interested in Krsta- jić’s statements, when he decided to replace the national team captain prior to a friendly match in March. Instead of Branislav Ivanović, the captain’s armband is now sported by Al- eksandar Kolarov. At the start of our interview, Mladen reveals to us what it’s like to be national team coach in a country where everyone understands foot- ball and has some advice. - I have a goal, ideas, and an expert, high-quality team of associates. I’m ready to handle every kind of pressure, which is an inte- gral part of football, in order for us all to work purposefully. And, believe me, we want only the best of our national team and Serbia. Our nation should be proud that the team qual- ified for Russia. We will try to make the best
Otkad su kazaljke označile prelazak iz 2017. u 2018, planeta čeka 14. jun i otvaranje Svetskog prvenstva u fudbalu, centralnog sportskog događaja u ovoj godini. Srbiju sa Mladenom Krstajićem na čelu za početak očekuju dueli sa Brazilom, Švajcarskom i Kostarikom Since the clocks struck midnight to mark the end of 2017 and the start of 2018, the planet has been waiting for 14 th June and the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup, this year’s central sporting event worldwide. Serbia, headed by Mladen Krstajić, is awaited by duels against Brazil, Switzerland and Costa Rica
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