Coach – Mladen Krstajic: Officially the caretaker manager following the dismissal of Slavoljub Muslin in 2017, Krstajic will take permanent charge of the national team until the end of the World Cup.
Legend – Nemanja Vidic: Widely regarded as the greatest defender of his generation, Nemanja Vidic’s time at Manchester United saw him collect five Premier League titles and one Champions League. He and Rio Ferdinand formed one of the most formidable partnerships in Premier League history and Manchester United are to this day still trying to fill a Vidic-shaped hole at the back.
Vidic was also an integral cog in Serbia’s “Famous Four” defence who conceded just one goal during the entire 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign. Also in that back line was Serbia’s manager Mladen Krstajic.
Star Man – Nemanja Matic: Despite occupying a deep-lying midfield role in the Premier League, do not be shocked if this Rolls Royce of a footballer takes up a more advanced, dictating position for his national side. As well as an impeccable understanding and reading of the game, Matic also boasts a terrific passing range. He also keeps a thunderbolt of a strike in his armoury for special occasions.
Did you know? Milorad Arsenijevic became the first person to play and manage at a World Cup, featuring for Yugoslavia in 1930 before taking charge in 1950.
Fun Fact: In qualifying for the 2006 World Cup Serbia conceded just one goal, boasting the best defensive record of all the 51 teams involved in qualifying. The four defenders were dubbed the "famous four".
Qualifying: Group D winners in European qualifying, finishing two points clear of runners-up Republic of Ireland.
Group E Fixtures: Costa Rica (1pm, June 17, Samara), Switzerland (7pm, June 22, Kaliningrad), Brazil (7pm, June 27, Moscow)
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Partizan Belgrade), Predrag Rajkovic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Marko Dmitrovic (Eibar).
Defenders: Aleksandar Kolarov (AS Roma), Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dusko Tosic (Guangzhou R&F), Antonio Rukavina (Villarreal), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Milan Rodic (Red Star Belgrade), Uros Spajic (Krasnodar), Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina).
Midfielders: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Marko Grujic (Liverpool), Adem Ljajic (Torino), Dusan Tadic (Southampton), Filip Kostic (Hamburg SV), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica), Nemanja Radonjic (Red Star Belgrade).
Strikers: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United), Aleksandar Prijovic (PAOK Salonika), Luka Jovic (Benfica).
After missing out on World Cup qualification in 2014 the Orlovi made no mistakes this campaign, topping the group with just one defeat in 10 games. When looking through the players at their disposal, it is no surprise that the Serbs have made it to just their second World Cup as an independent country.