A Solid Defense Holds The Key To Serbia's World Cup Success

There is a general saying that sometimes the best offense is a good defense. For the Serbian national soccer team, it doesn’t get any simpler than that.

With experienced coach Radomir Antic at the helm, Serbia has come to rely on its skilled defense in order to grind out favorable results. Fortunately, this reliance has led them to landing their first international tournament appearance as an independent nation this summer.

Coming in at first in a qualifying group including European power France, Serbia scored 22 goals and conceding a mere eight to book their place at the South Africa World Cup. However the hard work is only just getting underway.

Drawn in a group that includes Ghana, Australia, and three-time world champion Germany, Serbia’s stalwart defense will have to be at its very best if they wish to progress to the knockout stages.

Manchester United star Nemanja Vidic stands at the heart of the backline and has been consistent for both club and country at smothering opponents' attacking attempts. Besides Vidic, former Under-21 United States International Neven Subotic and Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic will also provide cover for the center.

Yet while Serbia’s defense is by far its strongest area, it is certainly not lacking quality in the middle and up top.

At midfield, Captain and Inter Milan midfielder Dejan Stankovic is still able to procure those deft passes despite his age while wingers Zoran Tosic and Milan Jovanovic steady service into the box should be more than enough for towering striker Nikola Zigic to record a few goals.

At six feet eight inches Zigic is the tallest player at South Africa this year and, just as the Czech Republic did with Jan Kollar in 2006, Serbia will be sure to take advantage of his presence in the box.

While finishing first in its group may be a long shot, reaching the knock stages is most certainly within reach for a team blessed with depth.

They may not have the most accurate passers or produce the most flair, but Serbia is one of few teams whose straightforward style of play is sure to prove difficult for opponents.

Staying injury free is the only major challenge that Serbia faces and if they can manage to do that, then progressing far into the knockout round is not just a possibility for this team but a reality.