Serbia & Montenegro, we hardly knew ya

May 22nd, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

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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Walter

Does raise an interesting possibility if S&M wins this time, in 2010 there technically won’t be a defending champion.
chris

And which one of them would qualify automatically as champion?
chuck

I kinda thought having two countries rolled into one was a bit unfair.

Could Trinidad & Tobago be next?
http://www.3kilos.co.uk James

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.
http://www.trinidadtobago.worldcupblog.org stacy-marie

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.
dan

Imagine combining Brazil and Argentina.. That would be unfair.
chuck

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…
Tomislav

If Bosnia and Herzegovina ever split than Herzegovina would become a part of Croatia. mmm…. Not a bad idea!
http://www.girlysportsrant.blogspot.com tracy

Combining Brazil and Argentina? They wouldnt making out of qualifying with the fights within their own team!
Nerzo

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 ;)
Pete

Yeah combining two rivals such as Argentina and Brazil would never happen… they hate each other too much…