Serbia & Montenegro, we hardly knew ya
One of the great things about World Cup football is that it gives us all a chance to escape the reality of everyday life and to ignore things like politics. From time to time, though, football and politics become intertwined. On Sunday, the people of Montenegro voted to become an independent nation. This will have little to no impact on Serbia & Montenegro’s World Cup team in Germany, but it is does mean this is likely the first and last time a team designated as Serbia and Montenegro plays in a World Cup.
“Regardless of who voted for independence instead of a state union with Serbia, we will all support the unified team. Serbia is closest to my heart after my native Montenegro and I will cheer for them in the Euro 2008 qualifiers too,” said Montenegro Football Association President Dejan Savicevic.
A nice sentiment if ever there was one.
Speaking from experience, the parting of the ways is a godsend for headline writers and bloggers who no longer have to try to fit such a long and unwieldy name into limited spaces, and who are unable to convince their editors that S&M is an entirely appropriate abbreviation.
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Comments
By Walter | May 22nd, 2006 at 12:59 pm 
Does raise an interesting possibility if S&M wins this time, in 2010 there technically won’t be a defending champion.
Posted from 
United States
By chris | May 22nd, 2006 at 1:02 pm And which one of them would qualify automatically as champion?
Posted from United States
By chuck | May 22nd, 2006 at 2:04 pm I kinda thought having two countries rolled into one was a bit unfair.
Could Trinidad & Tobago be next?
Posted from United States
By James | May 22nd, 2006 at 3:11 pm Neither would qualify as champions chris, the champions do not automatically qualify anymore, just the host nation.
Brazil won the last world cup but they had to qualify.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By stacy-marie | May 22nd, 2006 at 4:05 pm Chuck,
T&T are one country, two islands. Slightly different historical context – Tobago was never independent, etc etc.
And we’re not splitting up anytime soon.
Posted from United Kingdom
By dan | May 22nd, 2006 at 6:08 pm Imagine combining Brazil and Argentina.. That would be unfair.
Posted from United States
By chuck | May 22nd, 2006 at 11:06 pm Stacy,
That “two-counties in one” comment was just my attempt at some cynical humor.
You know, like Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, etc…
Heck, I predict that soon, even Bosnia & Herzegovina will want to make a split! Geez…
Posted from United States
By Tomislav | May 23rd, 2006 at 6:07 am If Bosnia and Herzegovina ever split than Herzegovina would become a part of Croatia. mmm…. Not a bad idea!
Posted from 
Australia
By tracy | May 23rd, 2006 at 4:08 pm Combining Brazil and Argentina? They wouldnt making out of qualifying with the fights within their own team!
Posted from United States
By Nerzo | May 26th, 2006 at 10:08 am Not like Montenegro offered much to the unified team – Dragoslav Jevric (who is devestated at the split) and Mirko Vucinic (who has in the past said he will play for Serbia) … If Montenegro is the state splitting from the union then its only fair to say Serbia is left, therefore Serbia gets the honours 
Posted from Australia
By Pete | June 9th, 2006 at 11:52 pm Yeah combining two rivals such as Argentina and Brazil would never happen… they hate each other too much…
Posted from United States
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