Serbia
After underperforming in recent major competitions, in 2020 Serbia decided to turn things around and bring a foreigner to the helm. Spanish coach Antonio Gerona took over with a clear idea of leading Serbia to EHF EURO 2022. It turned out to be a good decision.
Serbia, after winning silver medal at EHF EURO 2012, have not featured among the top teams since. At EHF EURO 2020 they finished 20th; they were 18th at the IHF Men’s World Championship 2019 and failed to qualify for the 2021 edition as well as the last two Olympic Games.
But sparked by Gerona’s inspiration, they looked revitalised in qualifying for EHF EURO 2022 in first place in group 1. Their successes included beating 2020 Olympic champions France 27:24 and drawing the return fixture 26:26.
These qualification results, together with good performances by players in their clubs all over Europe, will be a good boost for Serbia ahead of exciting matches in Szeged where they will face France, Croatia and Ukraine.
Eyeing main round participation, Serbia’s key will be a strong defence backed up by Dejan Milosavljev and Vladimir Cupara between the posts.
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| # | Player | MP | Goals | Shots | % | 7m | YC | RC | 2 Min | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| TOTAL | {{totalGoals}} | {{totalShots}} | {{totalShotsEfficiency}} | {{total7mGoals}}/{{total7mShots}} | {{totalWarnings}} | {{totalDisqualifications}} | {{totalTwoMinPenalties}} |
| # | Goalkeeper | MP | Saves | Shots | % | 7m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| TOTAL | {{totalSaves}} | {{totalShotReceives}} | {{totalSaveEfficiency}} | {{total7mSaves}}/{{total7mShotsReceives}} |
29
25
23
20
31
23
25
27
10
0
0
10
31
21
26
26
27
24
EHF competition history
Serbia
23
Slovenia
20
Slovenia
31
Serbia
34
Portugal
25
Serbia
25
Serbia
28
Portugal
21
Hungary
30
Serbia
25
Serbia
25
Hungary
26
Serbia
19
Denmark
21
Serbia
26
Croatia
22
Serbia
19
Fyr Macedonia
22
Serbia
24
Sweden
21
Serbia
21
Germany
21
Serbia
21
Slovakia
21
Serbia
24
Denmark
22
Poland
18
Serbia
22
Serbia
26
Argentina
25
Poland
27
Serbia
26
Sweden
28
Serbia
24
Serbia
28
Romania
38
Serbia
24
Croatia
24
Denmark
35
Serbia
27
Australia
18
Serbia
35
Serbia
25
Algeria
24
Austria
37
Serbia
31
Serbia
23
Denmark
28
Iceland
29
Serbia
29
Italy
31
Serbia
34
Serbia
39
Faroe Islands
20
Russia
35
Serbia
31
Serbia
35
Switzerland
27
Serbia
28
Bosnia Herzegovina
23
Bosnia Herzegovina
31
Serbia
28
Serbia
35
Russia
29
Switzerland
32
Serbia
32
Serbia
48
Italy
24
Faroe Islands
20
Serbia
41
European Championship
2012 - 2nd place
Key Players
Left back
Petar Djordjic played at EHF EURO 2018 but missed out on the squad for 2020. Djordjic won the Cup Winners' Cup in 2012 with Flensburg and has also played for Hamburg and Wetzlar in Germany. He arrived at Portuguese side SL Benfica in 2019 after two seasons with Meshkov Brest in Belarus. The 1.97m-tall left back went on to score 149 goals in his first 20 league matches for Benfica. He is the son of former international player Zoran Djordjic.
Right wing
Bogdan Radivojevic has said: “I would trade everything I ever won for a EURO medal with Serbia”. He missed out on EHF EURO 2016, but has played every other European championship since 2014. Radivojevic won the EHF Champions League with Flensburg in 2014, and was named Champions League Player of the Month in September 2019 after joining Hungary’s Pick Szeged. Two of his younger brothers also play handball.
Head Coach
Coach
Spanish-born coach Antonio Gerona took over Serbia in May 2020. He also coaches French club Chartres. This is his first major tournament with Serbia, having previously coached Tunisia to 12th at the IHF Men’s World Championship 2019. Gerona previously coached Barcelona youth teams and El Jaish, and as an assistant coach at Barça won the EHF Champions League in 2005.
