Defender Neven Subotic makes World Cup debut for Serbia sted US

Subotic makes World Cup debut for Serbia sted US

PRETORIA, South Africa — When Neven Subotic made his World Cup debut, it was in the red jersey of Serbia and not the blue uniform of the United States.

The central defender spent part of his youth growing up in Salt Lake City and played for the United States Under-17 and Under-20 teams. But after coach Thomas Rongen left him off the roster for the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, he switched allegiance to Serbia, part of the Yugoslav nation when he was born.

Did he allow himself to ponder how his international career might have turned out if Rongen had selected him and he stayed with U.S. Soccer Federation national teams?

“I haven’t thought about that,” he said Sunday after Serbia opened the World Cup with a 1-0 loss to Ghana. “Why would I think about that now?”

Born in 1988 at Banja Luka, now part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Subotic moved to Germany with his family when he was about 5. When their authorization to reside in Germany expired five years later, they moved to Utah, where a cousin of his father lived.

The family later moved to Bradenton, Fla., where his sister played at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. It was there that he joined the U.S. Under-17 team under coach John Ellinger.

Subotic made one start and three substitute appearances for the U.S. at the 2005 Under-17 World Championship, where he played alongside forward Jozy Altidore, a member of this year’s American World Cup team. He moved up to the U.S. Under-20s and played two games, the last in November 2006.

After he missed the Under-20 tournament, he re-evaluated his career and decided he wanted to play for the land of his birth. Serbia coach Radomir Antic announced the change in December 2008, and Subotic made his debut for the White Eagles in a World Cup qualifier against Romania in March 2009. He scored against the Faeroe Islands that June.

Now 21, he’s gained professional experience in Germany with Mainz (2007-08) and Borussia Dortmund (2008-present).

“I only played international football for 1½ years. It’s gone really fast. It doesn’t feel as great as I thought because of the result,” he said with a slight German accent. “You like to dream you make a difference or, if it’s for real, at least keep the score. And that didn’t happen today. so obviously it’s mixed feelings for me.”

Subotic entered in the 76th minute, two minutes after Aleksandar Lukovic was ejected for his second yellow card. Antic told Subotic to go in as soon as Lukovic was sent off. There wasn’t any time for butterflies.

“The red card happened so fast,” Subotic said. “I got my shin guards, put them on and then I was already on pitch playing. It was too fast to think.”

Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty kick for Ghana in the 84th minute after Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a cross in the penalty area when he lost his balance trying to head the ball and his hand came up.

Serbia has now lost four straight World Cup games. It hopes to rebound against Germany on Friday and Australia on June 23. If it advances, it could face the U.S. in the second round.

Subotic took inspiration from how Ghana lost its opener to Italy four years ago, then rebounded to beat the Czech Republic and United States to advance.

“We have to put all our hope in this game against Germany,” he said. “Ghana has showed not all the big names play good football in the World Cup.”