Serbia Boss Hints At Ivanovic Return To National Team

Story By: Ana MarjanovicSub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency:  Golder’s News And Sport 

Chelsea legend Branislav Ivanovic could be set for a surprise return to Serbian national team at the age of 35 for their crunch Euro 2020 qualifiers.

Serbia boss Ljubisa Tumbakovic says he does not “see any problem with Ivanovic’s return, I have a great relationship with him” when asked about a possible return for the defender.

Picture Credit: Golders

Serbia manager Tumbakovic, 67, made the comments in an interview with Serbian daily newspaper ‘Politka’ where he hinted at Zenit Saint Petersburg captain Ivanovic’s return to the Serbian national team which could see him face Scotland in a crunch playoff final.

The comments have reportedly come as a surprise after Ivanovic, 35, was stripped of his long-time captaincy just before the 2018 World Cup and later removed from the squad by former Serbia boss Mladen Krstajic, 45.

Krstajic was sacked in June 2019 after a poor start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Tumbakovic was then appointed as the head coach. Serbia are now preparing for the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers play-off stage after failing to qualify in the group stage.

Picture Credit: Golders

When speaking about Ivanovic potentially representing Serbia again, Tumbakovic said: “Of course I’m thinking about Branislav Ivanovic.

“I know this is a very complicated issue, but we are talking about the potential of a footballer who plays in one of the strongest European leagues today, where he is still the captain and leader of the Zenit squad.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t see any problem with Ivanovic’s return, I have a great relationship with him. I also have complete autonomy in work and decision-making for the national team”

Picture Credit: Golders

Ivanovic was sold to Zenit in February of 2017 for a reported 9 million GBP on a two-and-a-half-year contract after playing at Chelsea for nine years. He currently captains the Russian side.

When Tumbakovic was asked about calling Ivanovic for Serbia’s upcoming pivotal match against Norway he said: ” I’m thinking in that direction as well (to invite Ivanovic for the match against Norway).

“There is still a long way to go, and our decisions must be quick, accurate and, above all, in the interest of Serbian football, not of any individuals”

Serbia are set to play Norway in the Norwegian capital of Oslo on 26th March in a single-leg playoff semi-final.

The match is part of a new play-off system in which four teams will be chosen from a pool of 16 to participate in the European competition if they win both the semi-final and the one-off final match.

If Serbia beat Norway, they will go up against the winner of Scotland and Israel to decide one of the four countries to participate in the UEFA Euro 2020.

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