Question of the Week: Yugoslavia

Remember, if you have an idea for a question you would like to see, PM it to me, and each week one question will be selected based on the quality of the question and it's subject. I will not choose the questions on my own, but this is the best way to ensure that we don't keep discussing the same things.

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This week's comes courtesy of Coruja:

What would a Yugoslavian NT look like if the countries weren't divided? Would they be successful?

Past Questions:
13/9 - What will football be like in 50 years?
19/9 - What are some rule changes that would improve the game?
3/10 - The European Super-League Discussion
11/10 - How would you spend 50m?
19/10 - Why does ____ underperform?
26/10 - How to stop Barcelona?
13/12 - What players have you come to respect/dislike?
20/12 - Who will win the Euros?
2/1 - Should the Prem introduce a winter break?
9/1 - Who is the most two-footed player?
15/1 - What is the toughest position?
23/1 - Who is Portugal's Revelation Player for 2011?
3/2 - Should the Old Firm compete in the English leagues?
13/2 - Is Guardiola Overrated?
24/2 - Who are the German league's best players?
6/3 - Which players messed up their careers by switching clubs?
13/3 - What is the most shocking transfer of all-time?
16/5 - Your Favorite Player (NOT based on performance)?
10/6 - The 2016 Euro Expansion
12/7 - Best Goal Ever?
3/8 - World Cup vs. Champions League Discussion

To those who don't know, the former Yugoslavian states (if I'm not mistaken) are:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Montenegro
Croatia
Macedonia
Slovenia

XI: Handanović; Ivanović, Subotić, Vidić, Kolarov; Srna, Modrić, Pjanić; Jovetić, Vučinić; Džeko

Bench: Begović, Corluka, Bisevac, Bačinović, Rakitić, Perisić, Krasić, Iličić, Sulejmani, Pandev, Mandžukić, Jelavić, Olić

can't think of more defenders right now ... bit of a FIFA formation in midfield, but they'd do well ... semis of a Euro potentially ...

I like this question, looking at recent call-ups, I'd say the best players the new NT would have are:

Bosnia & Herzegovina: Dzeko, Ibisevic, Lulic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Begovic
Croatia: Srna, Corluka, Modric, Kranjcar, Pranjic, Perisic, Mandzukic, Jelavic, Rakitic
Serbia: Ivanovic, Vidic, Kolarov, Subotic, Kuzmanovic, Tosic
Macedonia: Pandev
Slovenia: Handanovic, Ilicic
Motenegro: Jovetic, Vucinic

There's a good team there. I'd say:

GK: Begovic, Handanovic, Pletikosa
DF: Ivanovic, Vidic, Subotic, Kolarov, Srna, Corluka, Strinic
MF: Modric, Kranjcar, Pranjic, Pjanic, Lulic, Misimovic, Rakitic, Perisic
ST: Dzeko, Jovetic, Mandzukic, Jelavic, Vucinic, Pandev

It's not exactly balanced, and there are 24 players because I included Pandev for the sake of having someone from every nation, but still, there's lots of talent.



Could work, could be better. I'd say they could reach a final with a really good run and favourable draw, but I don't think they can win anything with that squad, although there are some excellent players there. The back four and keeper are solid, there's creativity in midfield and Jovetic and Dzeko are good too.

EDIT: Forgot about Krasic. Him instead of Perisic maybe.

That's a weak ass midfield you got there.

I know, but I can't think of a great holder to put in.

that's why I went with the x-mas tree formation ... still may not be enough, but the extra defender helps a little ...


EDIT:

actually, when drawing it out, I think maybe a 3-man defence with 2 wingbacks works to compensate the lack of a proper holder better:

Yugoslavia in 1990 WC were the best yet I think. They reached into quarter-finals.

Was Davor Suker part of Yugoslavian player at that time ? I can't recall my memory yet...

Ooooooo what an excellent question.

One think I am sure of is that Savic wouldnt be in it.

Oh and when you guys have got bored of that why dont you go the whole hog and do the USSR!

Sir Sir_Didier_Drogba;3288730 said:

Oh and when you guys have got bored of that why dont you go the whole hog and do the USSR!

Click to expand...

Just a combination of Russia and Ukraine. It's actually not that exciting.

I feel like no matter the talent in Yugoslavia, the tension would be too great and the players would wanna murder each other.


That said, maybe they have the talent to overlook that and form a super team that can compete with the super powers of the world (Germany, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, etc).

What Spain would looks like with the Catalan players?.. Oh, wait!

I would actually love to see Castile vs. Catalonia vs. Basque Country. And what the hell, throw in Portugal too.

Athletic + Alonso, Arteta, Beñat, Monreal, Azpilicueta and Raúl García is a quite good team

Susaeta, De Marcos, Aurtenetxe, San José, Elustondo, Pardo, Griezmann...



Capdevila, Verdu, Sergi Roberto, Bartra, Muniesa, Deulofeu, Alvaro Vazquez, Sergio Garcia...

ShiftyPowers;3288744 said:

Just a combination of Russia and Ukraine. It's actually not that exciting.

Click to expand...

I meant including satellites. So you could have former Yugoslavians in there, Poles, Czechs, even East Germans.

That was never a real country though. How about the Spanish Empire team?

USSR 12 would probably only include Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and maybe Aliaksandr Hleb. (Baltic States wouldn't count)

EDIT: Yugoslavia also wasn't a Satelite of the USSR. And, for argument's sake, you could chip in Lorik Cana since he was technically born in "provinical" Kosovo.

Also, what about Czechoslovakia? That would be a decent team this time around. Apparently they also might joint bid for Euro 2020. Should they submit a joint team too?

Good squad for sure, but I'm not sure whether all of them can coexist together, that's why so many countries created.