WHY ex-Yugoslavs are the best footballers

Footballers from the countries which used to make up Yugoslavia are impressing worldwide, but why? Luka Modric even won the World Footballer of the Year Award in 2018. Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo - all produce outstanding football talent and we delve into the reasons for their success. Kick off! reporter Sebastian Saam argues that ex-Yugoslavs should be classed among the best players in the world.
Report: Sebastian Saam
Camera: Thomas Steimer
Edit: David Jacobi
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[@aidygooner]

Even the best players of Austria and Switzerland are Balkans. 😂

[@dwkickoff]

Kalajdžić, Grbić, Dragović, Šeferović, Shaqiri, Xhaka in the Austrian and Swiss squads just a few days ago.

[@aidygooner]

@@dwkickoff No wonder the match between Serbia and Switzerland felt like a derby match in the last World Cup. 😄

[@vismong102]

@Mi hangsh bolet 1510 Albanians carried Swiss in WC

[@walterwhitegaming80085]

yes lol

[@walterwhitegaming80085]

@@aidygooner serbia was robbed in that match

[@Darty555]

It's a similar story in basketball too, Jokic, Vucevic, Doncic, Bogdanovic, Dragic and Nurkic all incredibly talented players that come from former Yugoslav nations. An area of the world that is full of talented sportsmen

[@dwkickoff]

Basketball powerhouses!

[@coolvania]

Don’t forget Peja Stojaković, Vlade Divac, Tony Kukoč, and even Pistol Pete Maravich (his parents were Serbian)

[@vanhalen4308]

Also Predrag Mijatovic (Real Madrid Player who scored oly goal/winning goal In 1998 UCL final againts Juventus After 32 Years)

[@federicolf9902]

@@vanhalen4308 À clearly Off-side goal it was. Shame!

[@vanhalen4308]

@@federicolf9902If You see the match Mijatovic was run staright without stop. So that was not an offside Because it was Mistake from Juve defender. They forgot to mark Mijatovic 🤭

[@aaronkastriotiseni1406]

I remember the time when we didn't watch any of the European leagues, Yugoalavian firs league was very good. We as kids didn't dream playing in Real, Barca, Milan,Juve, Liverpool, Manchester, etc... We dreamed playing for Red Star, Partizan, Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk.

[@DorijanGrey]

you forgot Velez :)

[@cristianfuentes2597]

​@@DorijanGrey velez sarsfield

[@dinoskoblar9980]

In Croatia people did watch other European leagues on tv and Serie A and English Division 1 were popular. But in coastal Croatia they were able to catch Italian TV that other parts of Ex-Yu could not.

[@ivanbilic5697]

@@NikolaJokerMVP15 Dinamo Zagreb: Boban, Prosinecki, Simic, Biscan, Modric, Mandzukic, Corluka, Kranjcar, Lovren, Vida, Vrsaljko.... respect to Partizan youth academy, but even in SFRJ until 90s wasn't the best, after 90s especially. Dinamo Zagreb took the lead in front of everyone.

[@crvenimarsovac]

I really appreciate how you used ex-Yu music in this video. I can honestly say that I didn't expect that

[@tonysplit9488]

@Sebastian Saam and Slaven Bilić’s guitar solo from his Band “Rawbau” in the beginning of the documentary👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻😊

[@micoculumovic2729]

Atomsko Sklonište, EKV, Dino Dvornik...

[@RicoBanani]

TBF

[@tomogvozdenovic1959]

@Sebastian Saam could you list all the songs you used please?

[@MyTROTINET]

@Sebastian Saam you played Krug by EKV 👏 👏👏👏. Serbia did win the under 21 world cup a cpl of years ago too..beating Brazil in the final! Waterpolo...volleyball..tennis.. all sports former Yugoslav nations punch above their weight in..

[@marjansarec2337]

In Slovenija, every small village, city has a football pitch. They're more common than churches. There is a fierce competition even in simple matches between friends.

[@VonKrauzer]

@Sebastian Saam they have a chance. This is a tricky group they have, along side with Croatia and Russia. Slovaks may swing a few points on their day too. I think that Russia will probably take first place and two former Yugoslav republics will battle it for the second.

[@Darwinek]

@Sebastian Saam I watched first two Croatia's qualifiers. Don't know what's going on, but they were lackluster.

[@matyassiegel1732]

well in Czech republic its the same, except there is also church in every village - which is strange considering we are atheist country.

[@otwone5123]

Bruv, Macedonian and it's the same here, I have literally found football pitches in the middle of the fucking forest

[@karlomatosevic8437]

@@Darwinek Croatian coach Zlatko Dalić was trying to see how much younger players can help us in EC, and most importantly in WC. These matches were last chance for some players to show that they deserve to play on big stage. Because be honest it is not same to play friendly match and qualifications for WC. So when some pleyers from U21 came back to senior team, I think that Croatia will go as leader in this group.

[@s52pana]

I was 8 years old in 98. I really liked Croatia. Their shirts were so sick with the blue and the red & white checkers

[@jessetwumboafo]

Same here…Davor Suker was pure gold

[@lamina11]

They beat Jamaica 3 - 1

[@Strojko]

Gay

[@aleksrako2302]

@Sebastian Saam I have never seen a mediocre Germany....

[@Wallblue21]

U are 30-31

[@jonpirovsky]

Some people are surprised that Croatia beat Brazil this year, but they forget that Brazil had met Yugoslavia numerous times before in the World Cup (plus Croatia and Serbia as well). And it has almist always been tight matches. The first ever Brazil match in a World Cup was a defeat against Yugoslavia in 1930.

[@acapraichu4879]

I remember a guy in one of the Yugoslav war video said: "Idk what will happen if Yugoslavia reform itself but what I do know is that we will be very good at sports"

[@powderskier5547]

Stop talking garbage, Croats never gave their heart playing for stupid dirty communist jugoslavia. This is evident as after they got their independance they have excelled in all sports, they dont need the others

[@milekiticevsin3290]

@@powderskier5547 ok

[@MeME-xs6tk]

@@powderskier5547 Yeah...you can see it in basketball🤭

[@veduardo4152]

@@powderskier5547 nakon 20+ godina, jos uvijek toliko mrznje...

[@ohrid59mk76]

@@powderskier5547 sad si se usrao prijatelju i to do skroz ! pogledaj video kako se Zvone Boban raduje posle finala u Chileu ili Radja , Kukoc u dresu Jugoslavije ! sto je bilo bilo je , al nemoj da pljujes i historija se ne moze menjati o tvojoj volji .

[@mr.sushi2221]

I have always had a soft spot for Croatian players. Love the language, the country looks beautiful and their players always play attractive football.

[@Traveltheworld1818.]

Croatia has had a player or 2 in a Champions league winning club team for the last 10 years

[@14Mydarling]

Croatia qualified in 13/15 big competitions! More than all ex Yugoslavia teams together. It says how dominant they are comparing to ex Yugoslavia countries 💪🏼

[@omermowaffaquejaigirder8889]

Convey your love to a bosnian

[@mr.sushi2221]

@@omermowaffaquejaigirder8889 okay

[@johnsain]

@@Traveltheworld1818. Imagine if there were 100,000,000 Croatians?.....Serbs?.....etc....

[@lovrobarbir1273]

Props to you for pronounciation of Yugoslav names... For a moment I really thought you are of Slavic origins

[@samykiani944]

He speaks Serbo-Croatian!

[@lovrobarbir1273]

@@samykiani944 what really, well that explains a lot, tnx

[@walterwhitegaming80085]

ha lol

[@tonysplit9488]

@Sebastian Saam aaaah zato😊👏🏻👍🏻Bravo

[@lovrobarbir1273]

@Sebastian Saam Hahah ništa, zaslužio si svaku pohvalu, znam koliko je težak jezik, a posebno jednom Nijemcu. Još jednom svaka čast i samo tako nastavi

[@kostaszikas8642]

A fun fact: Since the start of Champions League in 1992, in every Final so far there has been at least one ex-Yugoslav across the two teams, except one (in 2006 Arsenal Barca). I don't think any other country can claim this. BTW it's North Macedonia now, not Northern. Cheers!

[@dwkickoff]

great stat Kostas

[@RenegadeShepard69]

France gets close, with at least one frenchman in at least one of the teams, bench or starting, in every Champions League except for 1999, 2007 and 2010. Congrats to all the Ex-Yugoslavs! It's a record that shows the great strenght of those nations.

[@korculaamv9820]

Damn, i didn't noticed that, i only managed to notice that last 7 finals had atleast one Croat or more

[@kostaszikas8642]

@Sebastian Saam Thanks! For a long time I was wondering why nobody has picked this up. There is a small asterisk: In 2007 there were two "half-Yugoslavians", namely Zeljko Kalac is Croatian who grew up in Australia so he played for their national team; and Marek Jankulovski is half-Macedonian/half-Czech but played for Czech Rep. Anyways, I still think it's quite amazing and I was kind of lazy to check for other countries but I think this is unique.

[@dibaskg]

Wow… I mean… wow… :-) We’ve reached the point of hearing “Northern Macedonia”, and the only correction we (Greeks) find appropriate is to point out that “it’s North Macedonia now” :-). This is a football-related video, and a very good one, so I won’t expand. I just found the correction hilarious :-) (in a disgusting way).

[@tf3629]

It's in their DNA.

[@ffs4207]

True!!!

[@balkan1244]

BALKAN POWER💪💪💪

[@gdchalatsis000]

Volleyball, water polo, handball. Of course basketball, even tennis. You name it! Yugos rock! Big respect from Greece.

[@jakob9546]

Best sport region on the planet!💯

[@samykiani944]

I absolutely agree.

[@schmechmal]

In your dreams

[@Dah2291]

Brazil ? Paris ?

[@jakob9546]

@@Dah2291 yea you have a Point, but ex Yugo region is all around great:all mayor ball sports they dominante, Cycling(champs), and cuz of Slovenia (mostly) this slavic Balkan region is also very very decent at winter sports. Brazil and France as far as i know are more than not football oh and handball, volleyball but still those 2 are much bigger countries. Idk...

[@walterwhitegaming80085]

@@Dah2291 NO I DONT WANT TO GO TO BRAZIL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@carlislepanting5219]

I'm a real madrid fan for life & I'm from Belize central America!! They have been so many great Yugoslav & ex Yugoslavia players through the generations at the bernabeu Stadium!! Luka modric at present!! A hero!!✌🙏🌎💖🇧🇿🤗💯

[@fritula6200]

Luke Modrić is Croatian.

[@anoldtimer]

We still play on the roads. We still use bricks as goalposts, that’s why .

[@prolificseeker4778]

What a interesting part of the world, Much Love from Mexico🇲🇽

[@luislicona386]

Mexicano! Greetings from another mexican here. I hope we start getting better results in our own National Team soon!!

[@MegaTali15]

Tercer Mexa por aquí!! Saludos!!

[@bdz798]

ORALEE CHICO..much love from Croatia..✌

[@amarson2322]

The only thing I dislike about Mexico is the fact that parts of bodies are everywhere and that the cartels are running your countru

[@buzzerbeaterbuzzerbeater9001]

Aztecs and Aryans have some kind of historic connection. Don t ask me to explain...

[@VGYugo]

Serbia won U20 World Cup in 2015. They beat Brazil 2:1 in the finals.

[@sidvyas8549]

WILD 🔥🔥🔥

[@aidygooner]

Yet their senior team are useless and don't play as a TEAM. 😬 But hopefully they'll find the right balance soon so they can qualify for the next World Cup.

[@fathanahahmad8795]

They're pretty good tho, even cr7 had too throw his armband 😂

[@Azizi1163]

@@aidygooner the reason is much deeper than u think why are they useless and don't play as a team.

[@aidygooner]

@Dusan Stojanovic I hope so because as a football fan I want to see good players thrive as a team instead of being wasted by bad management, player egos, weak mentality or bad attitudes.

[@f.meyer_cr7]

Mario Mandžukić one of my favourite players

[@ziginaigra]

😃how come

[@mariomutaja4317]

Luka Modrić..the Legend

[@JoshuaKimbrough]

That Yugo kit is HARD af!

[@JoshuaKimbrough]

@Sebastian Saam it's class

[@slovenianstravel]

Where can I get it? Any ideas?

[@CroHunter96]

Great great great documentary. I moved with 6 years from Zagreb to Cologne and when I’m nowadays driving though the districts in Zagreb or other Croatian city’s , you can see that on every pitch there are a lot of people . No matter if it’s football or basketball or something else .... it’s just part of the lifestyle . They are even organising some tournaments on their courts because it’s a real community ...Grüße aus Köln

[@user-xj3ve7wt8k]

1998 - Bronze 2018 - Silver 2022 - Bronze 2038 - Gold ? :)

[@carlop.7176]

Sumnjam, al ipak 👍

[@user-xj3ve7wt8k]

Ali je zanimljivo...

[@anteahorvat9917]

@Sebastian Saam👍 😀😀😀

[@eny8601]

I hope so.....⚽️

[@kristianp.5400]

@@carlop.7176 , zasto sumnjas ??? Sve je moguce i vjeruj mi da ce tako i biti. Da dozivim i to zlato kao i sve prethodne medalje pa da mogu riknut sretan 🇭🇷💪 !!!

[@FraneTH-ip1fl]

The main reason is that the kids still play football on the street with their friends. The kids don’t play that many videogames as in Western Europe. And then there’s just a certain talent for sports . Especially in Split and Dalmatia. Unbelievable how many sport superstars they produced and still produce in various sports

[@FraneTH-ip1fl]

@Sebastian Saam actually there might be something about it. Nikola Vlašić’s sister was a world class high Jump champion. Ivano Balic and Petar Metličić are from Split and won world Championship and Olympic games gold in handball for Croatia. Then Toni Kukoč and Dino Radja are from Split and won three times in a row the European Championship in Basketball for Jugoplastika Split 1989,1990 and 1991. Later Kukoč joined Chicago Bulls and won three times the NBA with Michael Jordan as team mate. Wimbledon winner and Davis Ćup winner Goran Ivanišević and Niki Pilić are also from Split.The people in Split are proud of the fact that they have such a high number of world class athletes in various sports. I think it’s the climate, sun, sea and the fact that the kids love sports. A lot of them are playing on the streets and you can find football courts and Basketball courts all over the city.

[@cheguevara5560]

I agree 100 % growing in up in Czechoslovakia in 70es we play football on the street every day ,later some of us joined local clubs ,fast forward 50 years ,when I go there for vacation ,no one is playing football on the street anymore ...and many local clubs are gone ,super markets replaced football pitches ,the result quality of football in Slovakia is average ,huge decline in last 30 years . 1961 Czechoslovakia silver at WC in Chile 1969 Slovan Bratislava / European cup winners Cup Winner 1976 European champion in Beograd 1980 winner Olympic games in Moscow so watching Slovakian football today is a painfull experience for some one who played football more than 30 years ,depressing to watch 🤣🤣

[@satanretina2962]

In my team we have Jan Oblak, stefan savic, Ivo grbic, Sime vrsaljko and ivan saponjic

[@kinderwood93bari4]

And we have Mandzukic , Rebic, Krunic,even Ibrahimovic.

[@pavek7193]

@Sebastian Saam atletico is also super league founder

[@janvukovic8717]

Hahaha yesss

[@marpagapal3312]

Oblak is by far the best keeper in football history, the others don't have quality to play for Atletico...

[@janvukovic8717]

@@marpagapal3312 yeah man

[@bojanstrackovski631]

Darko Pancev is highest scorer in top-division European football in the 1990-91 season with 34 goals, winner of the European Golden Boot award in 1991.

[@robertmitchell8868]

Pancev > Pandev, IMHO.

[@belioblak8283]

Toni Savevski was the best foreign player in the Greece.

[@IlijaZmaj]

Pančev is GOD.

[@dzemilmehovic5271]

Pančev is also still to this day youngest ever footballer to be top scorer of one 1st division league season. He was 18 when he was top scorer of Yugoslav league in 1982/83 for Vardar Skoplje

[@divinewind7405]

THIRTY YEARS AGO MAN! JEEZ

[@carlosvg2286]

How a 4M nation reached a WC final in modern football with such game level amazes me. Unrepeatable

[@carlosvg2286]

@Sebastian Saam who do you think will make it?

[@edgarallanpoe18]

@Sebastian Saam It's going to be interesting with Bosnia as new very talented players like Demirović, Hadžikadunić, Ahmedhodžić, Menalo and others are included in squad now, and with powerhouses like Pjanić, Džeko, Višća, Krunić, Kolašinac still able to play on high level, with new great coach Petev it's going to be interesting. The game with France, which ended in 1-0 win for France, was very close one and if you ask me it was undeserved win for World Cup winners, but at the end they got 3 points. Bosnia showed great and surprisingly very very solid performance against a team that worths over 1 billion US dollars. Clash between Bosnia and Ukraine is going to be decisive, but if Bosnia wins both games with Ukraine I think the team will go to WC and potentially show very good performance in Qatar. We'll see.

[@maarko46]

@Sebastian Saam We will Mate, we will

[@ratisok2324]

Everything is so well explained and with respect to all ethnicities! Would be epic if our clubs (like Dinamo) wouldn't need to sell so much. Love from Croatia! 🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷❤❤❤ Ex-Yu countries are the best 💪💪💪

[@kocostamatis3080]

Croatia is the best you pussy!! 🇭🇷❤🇭🇷

[@DorijanGrey]

Knowing the path and walking the path are very different things if you were alive back then you would know that Yugoslavia prefered serbian footballers over any other Yugoslav republic baller ;)

[@milosl6698]

Di t i je mamic@@DorijanGrey

[@DorijanGrey]

@@milosl6698 nije meni al je u Medjugorju mucko djubre :D

[@miranblazek5303]

Croatian football league is really good, according to ifrastructure. But it's really competative. Our Fottball Asociation is doing good job,no matter the problems

[@IvanAgram]

Well kudos to one who picked the soundtrack for this.

[@lukakovinic801]

@Sebastian Saam massive props for choosing the "Crna dama" solo :)

[@plagosus]

I was looking for this comment :) @Sebastian Saam svaka čast!

[@vasjaklun6008]

You didn't mention Slovenija, 2 million inhabitants and the national team qualified twice for the World cup and once for the Euro.

[@EnteleiEchein]

Yes, Slovenia has also talented cyclists. Roglic and Pogacar.

[@gregoriodelpiero5016]

As a Croat I have no problem saying that, per capita, Slovenia is by far the most successful sporting EX-YU nation. By far!

[@siiir1322]

The problem is the corruption in the associations. Just look at serbia. They have amazing players and when you look at the quality of the squad, they should atleast make it to every major tournament or even make it everytime to atleast the knock out stages. But the corruption and the terrible work from officials destroy the national team. Sergej milinkovic savic, luka jovic, tadic, mitrovic, kolarov, milenkovic, matic milivojevic... All really good players, some of them World class... and their talent is wasted

[@kevinwambo1856]

Sad Facts

[@samykiani944]

Maybe things start to change for Serbia at least. Kokeza is out and Piksi is the coach.

[@lucasvinicius-xo1ko]

As a brazillian i can say the same happens in brazil for a long long time, but we're so lucky that we cant stop producing excellent players

[@sashoksashok8108]

The funny thing is that after the break up of Yugoslavia , the best results they got under "tyran" Milosevic

[@Darwinek]

Just like in Croatia, where Zoran Mamić finally went to jail. Even without him, Dinamo Zagreb eliminated Tottenham. :)

[@thetarcio]

I found this channel this week and i'm completely addicted. Thank you for the subtitles, i'm brazilian and my english isn't that good. It helps a lot! Keep the lord football's work, fellows.

[@avenumohan7879]

Ibrahimovic should be counted as well

[@fmac6441]

As well as half of the Swiss team. LOL

[@pabloescobar7479]

@@fmac6441 and some Switzerland players

[@stevefrompolaca2403]

his mum hails from the zadar region and his dad from bosnia...

[@BosnianBornBeast]

Tbh, Ibrahimovic is more relevant to this team than say Pulisic. I guess Pulisic wouldn't count because his grandfather was from Dalmatia but his dad was born in the US. Plus Pulisic's mom probably doesn't have balkan blood at all. So that makes him a third generation American....

[@buzzerbeaterbuzzerbeater9001]

@@BosnianBornBeast True. Istina. Vrai.

[@danbet7710]

Australia’s most successful foray at the World Cup had up to 8 players from this region.

[@eddybulich3309]

They were 90% from Croatia

[@tonysplit9488]

Actually Nikola Karabatic’s father is Croatian from Kaštela near Split, his mother is Serbian. He’s fluent in Croatian and spending his summer vacations pretty often in Dalmatia

[@tonysplit9488]

@Sebastian Saam you’re always welcome , mate. And please ignore this obviously paid GNK Dinamo Mamić Mafia Club troll “dumb and dumber”. It is commonly known that Zdravko Mamić is playing trolls like he’s paying journalists, judges, policemen, and politicians (mainly from the HDZ party). This guy is a cancer to Croatian football and society

[@tonysplit9488]

Paying..not playing. Sorry for the typo

[@rokhorvat6660]

@DecemberJanuary serbian language uses plenty of turcisms. Same goes for the Bosnians. Serbs are writing cyrillic letters, Croats are using Latin letters. The first serbian book was printed 300 years after the first Croatian book. Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic literally copy and pasted Croatian linguists Marko Marulic and Bartol Kasic who lived 250-300 years before Karadzic. And Karadzic copied them while he was living in Vienna and during a time when Serbia was part of the Ottoman Empire and Turkish language was the official language in Serbia. So if all these people are using the same language then it’s the Croatian language.there is not a single poet or writer from Serbia or Bosnia from the 14th century until the 19th century. While Gundulic, Hektorovic, Marulic, Kašić etc were all Croats from Dalmatia

[@rokhorvat6660]

@Sebastian Saam call it Croatian language. Because that’s what it basically is. Serbs never experienced Barock, Renaissance. None of the people who are from the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine cultural heritage and who ended up under Ottoman Turkish occupation for 500 years ars Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia did. On the other handside Croatia never became a Turkish pashaluk and Turks never managed to conquer Split, Zadar, Trogir, Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Karlovac, Sisak, Pula, Rijeka, Opatija, Senj, Zagreb, Varazdin etc this is why Croatia had universities, gymnasiums, printed books and poets and linguists centuries before Serbs and the others. Literally Serbs copied and pasted Croatian language in 19th century and modified it and enhanced it with plenty of turcisms. They also took the Russian Cyrillic alphabet and modified it. Vuk Stefanovic Karadzic did this while he was living in Vienna and while Serbia was still an Ottoman Turkish Pashaluk until 1878.

[@rokhorvat6660]

@DecemberJanuary Petar Hektorovic, Marko Marulic, Bartol Kašić, Ivan Gundulic, Hanibal Lucic, Marin Drzic, Faust Vrancic..all Croat writers mainly from Dalmatia. From the 15th century to the 18th century. Serbia didn’t have a single poet, writer, linguist, scientist during that time. Of course not since Serbia was under Ottoman Turkish occupation during that time and cut off from (western) European cultural achievements, trends and exchange

[@felixw19]

Remember a few yeas back when Jovic, Gacinovic, Rebic and Kovac were at Frankfurt and people were joking that they were building a Yugoslav national team? Man that would have been awesome!

[@tf3629]

Similar thing is happening at AC Milan

[@alx_ivn_89]

four Croatians at Spurs not so long ago: Modrić, Kranjčar, Ćorluka and Pletikosa = Crottenham

[@Arrowgamesefootball]

Džeko and Misimović wining the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg ,don't forget that

[@MrFilip333]

You forgot Filip Kostic in Frankfurt. In Benfica 2013 were Matic, Markovic, Fejsa, Sulejmani and one more i cant remember but 5 Serbs in one club at the same time ahahahaha

[@felixw19]

@@MrFilip333 He only got to Frankfurt after Kovac left

[@MegaTali15]

I love the Jugoslavija shirt!! Does it still exists?? I want one!! By the way, I've heard that people from Former Yugoslavia support the other national teams, is that true?? Pozdrav svima iz Meksika!! Mi volimo vas!! 🇲🇽♥️🇸🇮🇭🇷🇷🇸🇧🇦🇲🇪🇲🇰 (And no, I didn't used Google translator, I'm learning Serbian)

[@petarmalovic7624]

Yeah,most of us support each other.Much love to Mexico from Montenegro.

[@pellevanlig245]

Drop Croatia! They ain't part of this.

[@user-rj4gu5oh3k]

We do support each other but in the same time our people are one of the most patriotic people in the world so it does get heated sometimes but the best thing to do is put politics aside

[@fritula6200]

What is a Jugslav Shirt ?? Describe it?

[@rutokelavra819]

@@fritula6200 jel se pravis glup, il ti stvarno pitas?

[@tonysplit9488]

Really enjoyed the documentary. Excellent research and pronounciation. Respect👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻 Best Regards from Split🇭🇷 Keep on the good work. And keep in mind : Hajduk živi vječno 😊

[@prolificseeker4778]

Much Love from Mexico🇲🇽,Still can't believe how dominant the 2018 Croatian team was, Modric is a living Legend no doubt...

[@MrReese]

When playing Football Manager I usually raid Dinamo Zagreb. Their player quality is unbelievable, basically a gold mine for getting very good players for not too much money.

[@MrReese]

@Sebastian Saam Haha :D. Was not a criticism of course, it's a great video! The people behind FM do a lot of research and therefore have a lot of knowledge in the field. Some people in football even use FM for real-world scouting apparently.

[@pretender52]

From the way u told the story and the music you used I got goosebumps more than once. You got a like from Croatian!

[@paneperunovski]

This video turned out to become a nice intro in what followed few days after - the epic fall of Germany against Macedonia

[@gravedigger1187]

Bas mi je drago za Makedoniju, navijam za vas na Euro!! Srecno!

[@paneperunovski]

@Yair Nahum Almassi Cute way to defend the cradle of the denocracy, by offending and discriminating... Just as they practice the democracy

[@starman1144]

*North Macedonia

[@paneperunovski]

@@starman1144 Yeah? Wow. Amazing

[@kblo7473]

As a kid growing in exYu, sports are our favorite pastime. We had basketball & football pitches everywhere - so you can say we grew up on the pitch. If you were persistent, dedicated and lucky enough to evade serious injuries - there is chance for you.

[@vatroslavzupancic2282]

Croatian national Football Association was established in 1912 , years before Yu existed...

[@miken7750]

AMEN

[@LjubomirLjubojevic]

That may be, but sport was not very big in Austrian (Hapsburg) Empire, even in pre-WWII Yugoslavia, only after the WWII did Communist government invest into building football (and basketball) fields in EVERY small village. It was mandatory because everyone needed to have same chance and everyone was to keep themselves physically fit with some sport, and to know how to play 1 or 2 team sports.

[@vatroslavzupancic2282]

@@LjubomirLjubojevic It was a trend everywhere, since 1896 where a renewal of the Olympic Games and the interest in Sports. Having a sport field in every village was normal even and specifically for dictatorship so Yugoslavia was no special example.

[@mirzapa]

Yugoslavia was (and continues to be) dominant in football, basketball, handball, tennis, water polo, volleyball, skiing, athletics, various martial arts, etc. Name a sport, we crushed it!

[@dorohoroya1308]

What about kricket?

[@mirzapa]

@@dorohoroya1308 we don't play colonial sports

[@fapmashina1]

Great remark! You're absolutely right! Peace and love from Croatia to the all good people of the former Yugoslavia!

[@prolificseeker4778]

Much Love to your Great Nations, From Mexico🇲🇽

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

Rugby?

[@MentalMickey]

Only the kids and people who are not informed are shocked about croatian football success. Roots of croatian football goes 100 years in past and if you combine that with extreme talent, 90s nationalism boost and pride that form the cult of football team then you get that success in France 1998. and Russia 2018. are not such a big surprise.

[@ziginaigra]

1998 team was much better than 2018

[@fapmashina1]

Excellent documentary! I'm absolutely delighted how diligent work you've done finding and bringing here so much interesting details in such a well organized and cool manner! Well done! Keep on doing great videos! Warm greetings from Croatia!

[@powderskier5547]

You serious? You still craving for jugoslavia? YUCK

[@mvuyisityiwani9080]

DW Kickoff is the gift that keeps on giving, I can't wait to watch this

[@nagabilly]

This is an incredibly well made video. The music, the history, everything

[@RicoBanani]

respect for playing music from the region in the background.. great video. extra points to the reporter for his flawless pronunciation

[@sgtwnbdg]

Igor stimac is now the head coach of Indian National football team Please support indian football ❤️🙏

[@pkingglazersout6665]

Hope so man!!

[@sgtwnbdg]

@Sebastian Saam it is not possible as they are already out

[@martinsoto1040]

I was literally thinking about this the other so crazy how this video was in my recommendation even though I’ve never watched before. A big fan now

[@lovrepodrug7194]

Nice song choice for the video, the first song was from the famous Croatian hip hop group TBF (The Beat Fleet)

[@nikoladjelic9383]

Not only football, but every sport!

[@mrconfusion87]

Unfortunately, not in hockey though! Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden will still be eating your lunch there though...

[@oxallion6245]

I just love this channel. Gr8 content!!!

[@bojangrbikj2495]

Outstanding pronunciation of all names too, seems you have really done your due diligence! Excellent work!

[@ssjtalla23]

Loved how you used variety of music from Balkans ❤️

[@user-gw7op3nb8h]

Im croatian but im so sad coz ibra didn't played for bosnia or croatia

[@tonysplit9488]

Very nice documentary 👏🏻

[@BKcroatia]

Great video,very enjoyable watch

[@FraneTH-ip1fl]

Bravo Sebastian👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Excellent documentary as usual.

[@FraneTH-ip1fl]

@Sebastian Saam Frohe Ostern & Happy Easter😊🙏🏻 And looking forward for your next documentary 👌🏻

[@murraycampbell4043]

I always wondered about the answer to this question. Great video!!!!

[@ivankrajinovic825]

One of the best video reports ever 👌 Made us proud!

[@hiddekruithof5080]

I always wondered this, smal populations but great footballers. Greetings from Holland👍🏻

[@fapmashina1]

Thanks pal! Greetings from Croatia!

[@lokroza5440]

Dankje well

[@anabadem5024]

This is why I love this channel ❤🤝

[@Pekara121]

People for some reason seem to be forgetting that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is an ex yugo. Incredible talents that are crafted in west Europe.

[@crisishere6771]

There's ex Yugoslavia teams and then there is Croatia on a totally different level

[@GoogleUser-wp6sg]

for sure they are coaches in every football developing nation. I swear serbs, croats and bosnians are coaches everywhere

[@smokeybirdman]

As a 48 yo Australian i really enjoyed following them in world cups.. Plus many of our players in socceroos are of Croatian/Serbian heritage mark bosnich, tom yuric, mark viduka and tom rogic

[@kocostamatis3080]

Mostly Croats 🇭🇷❤🇭🇷

[@smokeybirdman]

@@kocostamatis3080 yes Australia didn't get into football even though the country that invented it started our country. Go figure. For some reason we preferred more physical games like rugby and AFL and cricket. Fuk knows why cricket considering its played in summer and the sun here is unbelievably hot. So after ww2 when European began migrating from England and Italy and Greece and then known Yugoslavia the football game was strengthen. If Australia played football instead of the other codes we would very likely have one a cup or two. But fortunately the Croats etc love the game and honour our country with representation

[@eddybulich3309]

@@kocostamatis3080 All of them

[@ivancosic6123]

How does this have so few views, this video is perfectly made. Great music choice

[@denkodel6516]

The Croats Rock 🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷

[@milosmijatovic3964]

wow probably the first youtube video about about ex-yugoslavia which is not radiating mass hate in the comments. This just really shows how powerful football is. football = peace

[@v21829]

Legendary coach Miroslav Ćiro Blažević (1998 Bronze medal) said something like this (paraphrasing): "Yugoslavia always had a good team. You know why they never won anything? There was no national pride! Croatia is the proof, when you play for your own country, you have greater national pride and motivation than playing for union of countries!"

[@tonysplit9488]

Tomislav Ivić was by far the bigger coach than Ćiro Blažević .

[@agv-vt8co]

This may be true, but then what about the 1989 European Basketball Championship?

[@v21829]

@@agv-vt8co Croatia got a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics, so?

[@agv-vt8co]

@@v21829 yeah, great for them and deserved. But I'm talking about something else, when they still were Yugoslavia with all nations inside. What pushed them to lift the trophy in 1989? Was it only their talent and their working together as a team? Or was also some sense of pride for unified Yugoslavia?

[@v21829]

@@agv-vt8co Of course the talent and they were the best team in Europe. Yugoslav pride was not really strong after Tito's death. They had a great chemistry as a team and great players. Serbia is still one of the best in the world, Croatia had some great players back then, nowdays not some good results.

[@Tsar64]

I absolutely love that you included Videosex (Detektivska priča) in the background music, my favorite band!!! ❤️

[@Timliu92]

Imagine if Yugoslavia is still united - Oblak, Handanovic, Modric, Milinkovic-Savic, Rakitic, Kovacic, Jovic, Tadic, Pandev, Dzeko, Pjanic, Kolarov, Matic, etc all in the same squad. We are in for a treat - possibly even a WC or a Euro title!

[@walterwhitegaming80085]

dont forget mitrovic radonjic kostic and vlahovic

[@albinh.3149]

How about Rashica, Muriqi, Shaqiri, Xhaka,.... and many more? Yugoslav brotherhood and unity wasnt it? Pathetic

[@joaophilippe]

That would be one of the strongest teams in the world

[@workinginthewell3498]

@@joaophilippe No, it wouldn't be. Because players would enter the squad based on their nationality, not their quality. It already happened in the past. Why do you think they rarely qualified for world cups, and never won a single medal in 70 years? Individual quality was always there, but many great players never played for NT, or they only got few caps. It's better this way.

[@miliomb]

IBRAHIMOVIC...IBRA KADBRA

[@moradbenazzouz6550]

I recognised this in my younger age in düsseldorf germany, they were all technichel and mentaly strong.

[@IguANAart]

Kudos for great music choice!

[@LovroSabljak]

Love the music choices🤘🤘

[@ericfurst6091]

It would make totally sense to make the Yugoslavia league again (like Belgium and the Netherlands fusion league). But i doubt it would happen again bc of the conflicts.

[@RedStefan]

We have in Basketball and Handball regional leagues. Although in handball is a bit broader encompassing whole SE Europe.

[@dzemilmehovic5271]

it could happen with strict enough puishments. But FA leaders who are corrupt dont wanna allow it

[@moistpeanut5986]

and teams like France or England would not be nearly as good if it wasnt for its colonial past.

[@male11nov]

Hahaha. So true, its like knife cutting through cheese so precisely, love your comment.

[@asli9812]

They hate to hear it lmao. France would’ve barely gotten passed the round of 16 for sure!

[@tayloryoung9803]

@@asli9812 lol completely untrue. As normal as it is poorer people play football hence poorer people from France and England tend to be from former colonies. They were trained here and born here. If being from a former colony in itself made you better then explain me why no African country ever made it to the semis. Quite some players in ex-Yougoslav countries are also trained and brought up in western europe like Rakitic or Pjanic ,Kovacic, milinkovic-savic and so on. Then you may also state that they are not "originally French" well in that case I can't do much for you

[@keighlancoe5933]

England has only until quite recently had more diverse squads. Go back to 2010 and beyond and most of the players are White English people. London has loads of football clubs, and London is like 60% non-British now, so you're seeing loads of players coming through from London now which is why England football team is now more diverse

[@tayloryoung9803]

@@keighlancoe5933 it is definitely a phenomenon that is observable everywhere, same in Germany now : (rudiger, sané gnabry, moukoko + all the Turkish), but England in the 2000's still had quiet some "non white" players as Sole Campbell / Wilcott/ Defoe /Cole /Ferdinand/James /Heskey for the most notable

[@jjsjskskk]

Dino Dvornik (tebi pripadam) at the end❤️❤️

[@rokoskamp7371]

Also TBF (uvik kontra) at the begining

[@vermadheeraj29]

This shows that unity and mutual respect is so powerful.

[@rutokelavra819]

It`s the Ball-can´s !! that simple ;-)

[@tonysplit9488]

I can see that Sebastian is already an excellently informed and prepared expert in football topics. Nevertheless i can recommend a very nice documentary on Copa90 Stories on KZbin called “We won’t do what you tell us. The Hajduk Split story”.

[@padajsiloinepravdo6299]

Croatia came third in 1998, second in 2018, third in 2022. Pretty good for a country only with 4 million people.

[@anthonybranco]

It's called genetics. It's amazing to me how much they talk about sport investment and other factors. When the real politically incorrect factor is genetics. They're a great combination of height, strength and intelligence. Yugoslavians were the Brazilians of Europe in the late 80's/early 90's. I'm Portuguese, we're just not tall enough to succeed in sport like Slavic people. That's why Portugal rely on some African imports for speed. At least the Portuguese aren't disgraceful France.

[@antekovac5644]

Top Video👍🏻

[@user-gt1uy9cj6g]

Same goes with basketball. I mean just look at basketball players from former Yugoslavia. That squad today would be crazy. Jokic, Doncic, Vucevic, Bojan Bogdanovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic etc.

[@hudreefromapollo]

Big nurk. Goran. Yugoslavia probably has a chance to win the world cup and olympics in basketball and futbol sheesh.

[@user-gt1uy9cj6g]

@@hudreefromapollo Yes man, that would be scary strong team. In basketball and in football.

[@bilic8094]

It would be nice to ad doncic / dragic and vucevic nobody else would be needed for the serbian natl team we do it on our own anyways.

[@matelula8424]

hi from Split nice video as always.. HŽV

[@nihanthyadav3551]

Ok, me being a sports enthusiast I would love to be in one of those countries 😁

[@saubhagyasrivastava6050]

Igor stimac is now manager of Indian national team

[@micaiah3289]

Ive been watching this channel for years and didn't even realize..here's your sub....also can you do a video on Guyana that where I'm from. 🤗

[@tonizmac]

I think Hollywood has to make movie about Croatia national team❤

[@johnsain]

If they add a transgender player.....it will be made.....🤣😂

[@Rinka277]

Da smo samo u fudbalu bili dobri... yugoslavija je bila model svetskim silama. Trn u oku mnogima, nismo mogli opstati - razlike koje su nas krasile, te iste su nas i zavadile.

[@fapmashina1]

Ima u tome dosta istine! Da je bilo pameti i sreće, a manje suludog nacionalizma potpirivanog od strane nekih političkih vođa još od kraja osamdesetih, iako vjerojatno ne bi opstali kao zajednica, na kraju bi se razišli civilizirano kao prijatelji, baš kao Češka i Slovačka, kao braća i dobri susjedi koji bi nastavili imati odlične i brojne veze na mnogim razinama, od ekonomije, sporta, kulture, znanosti, osobnih prijateljstava i rodbinskih veza... A znamo nažalost kako je završilo! Ne ponovilo se više nikada na ovim prostorima da se masovno međusobno ubijaju i rade si nezamisliva zla tako bliski i srodni narodi, koji imaju puno više zajedničkog nego onoga što ih dijeli! Srdačan pozdrav iz Hrvatske!

[@dzemilmehovic5271]

@@fapmashina1 steta vala naslo se par budala sto je sirilo propagandu plus televizije su dosta uticale. Rts a i Hrvatske radio televizije su stalno jedni o drugima lose na TV propagirali. Rts o svima oko sebe u stvari. Npr oni protesti na kosovu kad je Slobo prvi out sam isao. Provociraju srbi policiju gadjaju ih kamenjem pa posle dobiju po nosu a na Rts prikazuju kao da ih kosovska policija tuce i maltretira a oni demek neduzni. I sve tako za te stvari malo po malo i nakupi se to sve. Pa tako slicno srbi za u hrvatsku i svugde, hrvati tako malo isto zabibere reportaze kao srbi ovo ono i K na kraju

[@damirblazevic7364]

@ Ali Sayyed: Ajde ne seri, majke ti... usrana Juga bila trn u oku? Kome?

[@dzemilmehovic5271]

@@damirblazevic7364 ja nisam nista reko o trnu u oku vala. Il odgovaras njemu a meni stize?

[@damirblazevic7364]

@@dzemilmehovic5271 Njemu odgovaram, ne znam zasto je tebi stigla notifikacija.

[@rokhorvat6660]

Very nice and interesting video👌🏻👌🏻

[@hajduksplit_913]

Croatia came into worldcup final alone...without the others. Yes we have 4 M inhabitants. But we have a pool of 8 Million worldwide. Large diaspora.

[@moonshadow2170]

And it wouldn't happen if it was Yugoslavia cause lot of Croatian players wouldn't even get a chance to play!

[@hajduksplit_913]

@@moonshadow2170 agree

[@danielmicic3300]

Yes, that was huge sure, But Serbia Is just Shit because of FFS

[@pellevanlig245]

Correction. 3.8 mil. ;)

[@hajduksplit_913]

@@pellevanlig245 who cares. Large diaspora is still there. We got player like Kovač, Rakitić or Šimunić from abroad and today Sučić, Vidović and Stanišić.

[@naukafit]

The soundtrack of this video is just fantastic

[@painless465]

The two best American Football coaches are Croatian American-Bill Belicheck(grandparents from Karlovac) for the New England Patriots and in college,Nick Saban of the University of Alabama

[@marnowsky107]

If we were one country no one could win us in any sport. Football, Basketball, Handball, Tennis we would be unbeatable. Greetings from Macedonia. (Ex Yugoslav country)

[@tvrtkok.]

Eh, djeco draga, jedan od razloga zašto sam jugonostalgičar! 😏

[@damirblazevic7364]

Glupost. I prije smo bili jedna zemlja i pobjeđivali su na svi bez problema.

[@starman1144]

*North Macedonia

[@pirateclick1d169]

Btw it's interesting how handball is so popular in the Balkans.

[@masoprid3]

@@starman1144 its not north you dickhead. just Macedonia

[@sashoksashok8108]

In Russia and Ukraine before the economic collapse there are many Serbs not only as a players, but technical staff as well (doctors, physics, coaches)