Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Serbia

Serbia are in group D at the World Cup and will play Ghana, Germany and Serbia. This is the Serbian squad which I believe has the best chance of success at the World Cup.

First 11

GK. Vladimir Stojkovic, Club- Wigan, Age at World Cup (AWC) 26.

RB. Branislav Ivanovic, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 26.

CB. Ivica Dragutinovic, Club- Sevilla, (AWC) 34.

CB. Nemanja Vidic, Club- Manchester Untied, (AWC) 28.

LB. Aleksander Lukovic, Club- Udinese, (AWC) 27.

RW. Bosko Jankovic, Club- Genoa, (AWC) 26.

CM. Gojko Kacer, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 23.

LW. Milos Krasic, Club- CSKA Moscow, (AWC) 25.

CAM. Dejan Stankovic, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 31.

ST. Nikola Zigic, Club- Valencia, (AWC) 29.

ST. Marko Pantelic, Club- Ajax, (AWC) 31.

Subs

GK. Vladimir Disljenkovic, Club- FC Metalurh Donetsk (Ukraine), (AWC) 28.

GK. Zeljko Brkic, Club- FK Vojvodina (Serbia), (AWC) 23.

RB. Antonio Rukavina, Club- 1860 Munich, (AWC) 26.

CB. Neven Subotic, Club- Borussia Dortmund, (AWC) 21.

CB. Nenad Tomovic, Club- Genoa, (AWC) 22.

LB. Ivan Obradovic, Club- Real Zaragoza, (AWC) 21.

RM. Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 22.

CM. Nemad Milijas, Club- Wolverhampton, (AWC) 27.

LW. Miralem Sulejmani, Club- Ajax, (AWC) 21.

CAM. Milos Ninkovic, Club- Dynamo Kiev, (AWC) 21.

ST. Danko Lazovic, Club- PSV Eindhoven, (AWC) 27.

ST. Milan Jovanovic, Club- Standard Liege, (AWC) 29.

Agree with my selections?

Have I included someone who doesn't warrant selection?

Have I missed anybody who should be included?

The Coach

Serbian Radomir Antic is the coach of the Serbian national team. Antic is one of only two people to have managed both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid and the only person to managedFC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlectico Madrid, historically the big three clubs in La Liga. This is the first time he's managed a national team.

Serbia' Strengths

Serbia's strength is in defence. In Vidic they have one of the best centre-backs going around at the moment and the rest of their defenders play in the biggest leagues in Europe. The midfielders and strikers also play in various high quality leagues across Europe.

Serbia's Weakness

Serbia's main weakness is in the goalkeeping. First choice Vladimir Stojkovic who formerlyplayed for Sporting Lisbon has moved to Wigan on a six month loan as a backup to Wigan'sfirst choice goalkeeper. Serbia's second and third choice goalkeepers play in Ukraine and Serbia respectively.

Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Germany

Germany are in group D, and will face Australia, Serbia and Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.

First 11

GK. Rene Adler, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, Age at World Cup (AWC) 25.

RB. Philipp Lahm, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 26.

CB. Arne Fridrich, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 31.

CB. Per Mertesacker, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 25.

LB. Marcell Jansen, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 24.

RM. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 25.

CM. Michael Ballack, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 33.

LM. Piotr Trochowski, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 26.

CAM. Mesut Ozil, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 21.

ST. Miroslav Klose, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 32.

ST. Lukas Podolski, Club- Koln, (AWC) 25.

Subs

GK. Tim Wiese, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 28.

GK. Manuel Neuer, Club- Schalke 04, (AWC) 24.

RB. Andreas Beck, Club- 1899 Hoffenheim, (AWC) 23.

CB. Serder Tasci, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 23.

CB. Christoph Metzelder, Club- Real Madrid, (AWC) 29.

LB. Heiko Westerman, Club- Schalke 04, (AWC) 26.

CDM. Torsten Frings, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 33.

RM. Roberto Hilbert, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 25.

LM. Thomas Hitzlsperger, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 28.

CAM. Marko Marin, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 21.

ST. Mario Gomez, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 24.

ST. Patrick Helmes, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 26.

Agree with my selections?

Have I included someone who doesn't warrant selection?

Have I missed anybody who should be included?

The Coach

Joachim Low has the highest winning percentage (68.8) of any German national team coach. This will be Joachim Low's first appearance at a World Cup as a coach however he does have experience as an assistant coach with Germany at the 2006 World Cup. Before his involvement with the German national team Low coached club sides in Germany, Turkey and Austria.

Germany's Strength's

Whilst Germany are strong all across the field and have good depth, they lack the superstar or two most of their rivals for the World Cup will be able to call upon at South Africa in June and July.

Germany's Weakness

Germany's weakness would be their left flank. This is Germany's weakest area in both of terms of quality and depth.

Post on The Roar

I have a post on the Australian sports website The Roar, titled "How other teams can stop the Socceroos".

You can check it out here.