Technician of Serbian origin and current assistant to Alain Geiger at the head of Servette FC, Bojan Dimic dissects the game of Switzerland’s third opponent in this World Cup; a selection that has made good progress over the past 2 years. He expects a close, tight and very interesting match. Match to follow on RTS2 from 7:30 p.m.
RTSsport.ch: Bojan Dimic, we say Serbia has changed compared to the one we saw in 2018. Can you confirm?
BOJAN DIMIC: Yes quite. This Serbia now relies globally on young people who had been world champions U20 in 2015 and European champions U19 in 2013. This generation is slowly coming of age. The team is talented, experienced, because it is made up of many elements playing abroad, including some in the best championships. It’s very interesting. Before this World Cup, I thought it was time for her to do something big.
RTSsport.ch: There is also a key man, coach Dragan Stojkovic, a former great player, who worked miracles with his group…
BOJAN DIMIC: Yes, he has a lot to do with the fact that this team now has a lot of ambition. Stojkovic is a very positive, very optimistic person, who has incredible confidence. He transmits it to his players and even to all those who surround this selection. Led by such a charismatic character, the internationals are now all pulling in the same direction. Before the World Cup, there was the feeling that there were no more ego stories in this group, no frills. It’s “life and death”. Stojkovic was able to create a real collective, which is very rare in our country.
There are no more stories of ego in this Serbian group, no frills. It’s “life and death”. Dragan Stojkovic was able to create a real collective, which is very rare in our country.
RTSsport.ch: So it’s solid outside. And on the ground?
BOJAN DIMIC: On the pitch, it’s also very balanced. With his 3-5-2, sometimes a 3-4-3, the coach wants a dynamic, fast and attacking team. She is inclined to attack, like the player Dragan Stojkovic himself was. And then, it relies on quality pistons, also with large gauges in the axis. What changes is that today’s Serbia is not just a pile of talented players, but is now complemented by “water carriers”, which we did not have necessarily in the past. A Maksimovic, who, for example, does miles and miles in a match, is very valuable. These are the kinds of pieces that may have been missing from the puzzle in recent years.
RTSsport.ch: How do the Serbian public observe their national team?
BOJAN DIMIC: He believes in her a lot! Before the start of the World Cup, there was a real enthusiasm in the country, a fervor everywhere in the streets, in the press. We saw posters everywhere, pubs too. There is today a real ambition with and within this selection.
Today’s Serbia is not just a pile of talented players, but is now complemented by “water carriers”, which we did not necessarily have in the past
![Bojan Dimic, assistant coach to Alain Geiger at Servette FC. [Keystone]](https://www.rts.ch/2022/11/18/20/59/13556680.image?w=320&h=320)
RTSsport.ch: In recent years, neighboring Croatia has, in terms of football, been more talked regarding than Serbia. Is there a little frustration?
BOJAN DIMIC: Yes, inevitably, there is a little frustration with the paths that Croatia has taken (note: vice-world champion in 2018). Admittedly, we are still better at basketball, but the Croatians have real results in football and it would be good if we managed to imitate them, or even reverse the trend. With the creation of our national center a few years ago and of a real detection and training sector, we are beginning to reap some fruits of our efforts. It should get better and better in the future. There is reason to be confident there too.
RTSsport.ch: Still, for this fall, there have been big doubts around two of the key men of this selection, Vlahovic and Mitrovic.
BOJAN DIMIC: Yes, one might wonder just before this tournament if the two were going to be up to it, and what is more at the same time. The big doubt mainly concerned Mitrovic, more than Vlahovic. There were also some around Kostic. We now see that of the 3, there is only “one and a half” that holds up (smile). Although, in my opinion, there are other leaders in this team to move forward…
RTSsport.ch: Thinking of Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic?
BOJAN DIMIC: No not necessarily! He is valuable, of course, but I think Tadic (Ajax) is more. A lot can depend on his creativity and his ability to make others who are in front of him play. The Swiss should be wary of this.
RTSsport.ch: With this Serbia-Switzerland, we can’t help but think of that of 2018, with the 2-1 victory of the Helvetians and the history of the Eagle. Are the Serbs inhabited by a real rage, a real desire for revenge today?
BOJAN DIMIC: Honestly, I didn’t read or hear anything regarding this before the World Cup. I do not believe that people or players want to engage this duel of December 2022 on the political ground. It must remain football. I also remember that Stojkovic was questioned regarding it at the time of the draw and he replied that he would not talk regarding it, because he was not there in 2018. He said that he was going to focus on a tough, ambitious opponent, who would certainly have to be beaten to go further. This is the case today. And I really hope that despite the huge stakes, it will only be a sports fight.
I do not believe that people or players want to engage this duel of December 2022 on the political ground. It must remain football.
RTSsport.ch: And so, what will make the difference, Friday at 8:00 p.m. (on RTS2)?
BOJAN DIMIC: Well, I see that these two teams are quite alike and are still struggling to adapt to a surprise tactic from their opponents. They are not necessarily the best able to change something suddenly, along the way, to adapt to an opponent who changes his plans. So, with two strategists like Stojkovic and Murat Yakin, we can expect a lot of things, but whoever wins is the one who, with his group, will be able to best respond to what is proposed opposite. I would say that the Swiss attack is weaker than that of Serbia. And conversely, the Swiss midfielder is more experienced, the Swiss defense is stronger, as it proved once morest Brazil. In Friday’s match, the psychological parameter will also be taken into account. Those who resist the best will win.
RTSsport.ch: So, Bojan Dimic, a prediction?
BOJAN DIMIC: There is not, for me, a prognosis of the heart or one of reason. I will be a supporter until the end of whichever of these two teams comes out of this group. Because you have to remember that despite my origins, I am a real Genevan, the kind who groans when the weather is nice and who groans when it rains (laughs). But I’m honest, so I’ll admit I see Serbia winning 2-1.
Arnaud Cerutti – @arnaud_cerutti