Serbia finished the World Cup in Qatar as 29th out of 32 national teams, winning only one point in a group with Brazil (0:2), Cameroon (3:3) and Switzerland (2:3).
After the relegation, Stojković pointed out that the team had problems with injuries and physical fitness, that he does not blame the players and that the maximum was given considering the conditions.
When asked about his resignation, he pointed out that nothing has changed, but that he is focusing on preparations for the European Championship.
In his address to SC FSS, Piksi dealt with numerous topics, and these are his key statements.
"Two out of three goals met"
"I will neither hide nor run away"
"It is said because foreigners read it"
"A great success that we will be aware of in 10-15 years"
"Even if we had gone further, we wouldn't have done anything"
"If we played for 65 minutes, we would be first in the group"
"We were unfortunate"
"I know that I am a thorn in the side of some people because they have no influence"
"We lost, but we were not defeated!"
"If those two were there..."
"Elections are not an alibi"
"My face is clean"
"Switzerland was harder for me than Argentina"
"Serbia will be powerful again"
"New players will be given a chance"
In the end, he concluded:
"Let's move on, keep our heads up, don't give up! We will continue to make the nation happy from March."
Serbia will get back on a winning track
"Serbia will be powerful again, Serbia will be victorious again, Serbia will again after 24-25 years be on the list of the biggest European teams, and that is the European Championship.
We were nowhere on the EP. In these 20-odd years, we have had 2-3 Champions Leagues as far as the clubs are concerned... We had 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022... Four World Cups where we were as we were... We have to be realistic, we have achieved nothing spectacular at the European or world level. That's why I emphasize that participating on a big competition is a success. We won't let anyone spit on it. I know how much the players give for the national team. Many people find it bothersome, they would like to tear it down. It won't be able to, they won't be able to do that.
One cycle has been completed, summary, out of three goals - two have been fulfilled. The nation recognizes that. I accept what we have not gone through.
We are back on the winning track, starting in March on new campaigns. The nation has to believe, the people have to believe, through the qualifications we have restored faith in football. We didn't drag ourselves around, we put up a big fight. We succeeded in that".
You can't go to the World Cup with your best players not fully fit through injury and expect to come through smelling of roses.Blaming the coach for their injuries and demanding he go is hardly logical TB or reasonable.So most will agree "what do you know"? The boys did a fine job under the circumstances.Let's hope all is well injury wise during Euro'24 qualifiers and the tournament if we get through.If we do I hope we can show the continent and the rest of the world what they missed out on in Qatar.
(Played a Stinker, 12 December 2022 21:25)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:48)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:47)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. (Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
He will have a short lease, they have a relatively easy qualifying group for EURO-2024 but they will also be expected to advance during the tournament. Serbia should allow some of its younger players more playing time to provide more spark. Gavric and Mitrovic will be 22 years old and could be diamonds in the rough.
(Jugoslavija, 7 December 2022 18:07)
Let's talk about the future and European Cup 2024 with the former Yugoslav and Balkan teams.
Serbia's draw is Hungary, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Serbia should easily be first in the group, if not, time for Stojkovic to go. Hungary will take second.
Our Albanian friends have Poland, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, and Moldava, kiss them goodbye, Poland and Czech republic will advance.
Kosovo has Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Belarus and Andorra. Interesting two wannabe Kosovo Albanians play for Switzerland, once likes scratching his balls. They may throw the game for Kosovo. Kosovo has a chance but Switzerland and Romania should advance.
Croatia has Wales, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia. Croatia should take it with some challenge from Turkey and Wales.
Slovenia has Denmark, Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. Slovenia and Denmark should advance.
"Northern Macedonia" has Italy, England, Ukraine and Malta. Tough group, Italy and England will advance.
Greece has Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland and Gibralter, another tough group. France and Netherlands will advance.
(Jugoslavija, 6 December 2022 21:20)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. As long as Serbia sticks with a loser coach, they will remain a losing team!
(Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. As long as Serbia sticks with a loser coach, they will remain a losing team!
(Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
Let's talk about the future and European Cup 2024 with the former Yugoslav and Balkan teams.
Serbia's draw is Hungary, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Serbia should easily be first in the group, if not, time for Stojkovic to go. Hungary will take second.
Our Albanian friends have Poland, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, and Moldava, kiss them goodbye, Poland and Czech republic will advance.
Kosovo has Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Belarus and Andorra. Interesting two wannabe Kosovo Albanians play for Switzerland, once likes scratching his balls. They may throw the game for Kosovo. Kosovo has a chance but Switzerland and Romania should advance.
Croatia has Wales, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia. Croatia should take it with some challenge from Turkey and Wales.
Slovenia has Denmark, Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. Slovenia and Denmark should advance.
"Northern Macedonia" has Italy, England, Ukraine and Malta. Tough group, Italy and England will advance.
Greece has Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland and Gibralter, another tough group. France and Netherlands will advance.
(Jugoslavija, 6 December 2022 21:20)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. (Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
He will have a short lease, they have a relatively easy qualifying group for EURO-2024 but they will also be expected to advance during the tournament. Serbia should allow some of its younger players more playing time to provide more spark. Gavric and Mitrovic will be 22 years old and could be diamonds in the rough.
(Jugoslavija, 7 December 2022 18:07)
You can't go to the World Cup with your best players not fully fit through injury and expect to come through smelling of roses.Blaming the coach for their injuries and demanding he go is hardly logical TB or reasonable.So most will agree "what do you know"? The boys did a fine job under the circumstances.Let's hope all is well injury wise during Euro'24 qualifiers and the tournament if we get through.If we do I hope we can show the continent and the rest of the world what they missed out on in Qatar.
(Played a Stinker, 12 December 2022 21:25)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:47)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:48)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. As long as Serbia sticks with a loser coach, they will remain a losing team!
(Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
Let's talk about the future and European Cup 2024 with the former Yugoslav and Balkan teams.
Serbia's draw is Hungary, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Lithuania. Serbia should easily be first in the group, if not, time for Stojkovic to go. Hungary will take second.
Our Albanian friends have Poland, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, and Moldava, kiss them goodbye, Poland and Czech republic will advance.
Kosovo has Switzerland, Israel, Romania, Belarus and Andorra. Interesting two wannabe Kosovo Albanians play for Switzerland, once likes scratching his balls. They may throw the game for Kosovo. Kosovo has a chance but Switzerland and Romania should advance.
Croatia has Wales, Armenia, Turkey and Latvia. Croatia should take it with some challenge from Turkey and Wales.
Slovenia has Denmark, Finland, Kazakhstan, Northern Ireland and San Marino. Slovenia and Denmark should advance.
"Northern Macedonia" has Italy, England, Ukraine and Malta. Tough group, Italy and England will advance.
Greece has Netherlands, France, Republic of Ireland and Gibralter, another tough group. France and Netherlands will advance.
(Jugoslavija, 6 December 2022 21:20)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:48)
Jugoslavija,
Your predictions seem in line with conventional thinking. On the surface they appear sound. I’m curious, what were your predictions for World Cup 2022. As we can now see, some of the teams advancing to the Quarter Finals were not favored to advance, let alone those that were dark horses. Making predictions usually results with egg on face. But then again, what do I know!
(Tinker Bell, 7 December 2022 19:47)
Pixie is no Peter Pan. Anywhere else he would have been sacked, that is what professional leagues and other World Cup football teams do. (Tinker Bell, 6 December 2022 21:15)
He will have a short lease, they have a relatively easy qualifying group for EURO-2024 but they will also be expected to advance during the tournament. Serbia should allow some of its younger players more playing time to provide more spark. Gavric and Mitrovic will be 22 years old and could be diamonds in the rough.
(Jugoslavija, 7 December 2022 18:07)
You can't go to the World Cup with your best players not fully fit through injury and expect to come through smelling of roses.Blaming the coach for their injuries and demanding he go is hardly logical TB or reasonable.So most will agree "what do you know"? The boys did a fine job under the circumstances.Let's hope all is well injury wise during Euro'24 qualifiers and the tournament if we get through.If we do I hope we can show the continent and the rest of the world what they missed out on in Qatar.
(Played a Stinker, 12 December 2022 21:25)