Although a 1-1 draw with eastern European rivals Croatia on Friday means that Serbia will not be present at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the future of the national team is looking particularly rosy.

Entering a transitional period at the start of the qualifying campaign following the international retirement of long-standing stalwarts Nemanja Vidić and Dejan Stanković, a wealth of new talented youngsters are getting their chance to represent their nation.

With former Lazio defender Siniša Mihajlović at the helm as the manager, the nation have undertaken a rebuilding process, with new young and able stars given their chance.

Looking at the side’s defence, in a year or two Serbia could well have one of the best back fours in European football.

Captain Branislav Ivanović leads the side from right-back and is arguably one of the most understated defenders in the European game – he plays a critical role for Chelsea and Serbia both.

On the other flank Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov adds experience, a direct approach and outstanding delivery. In the centre two young stars in the form of Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotić and City’s Matija Nastasić will form the heart of the side’s rearguard for years to come.

In midfield a number of players with excellent technique and range of passing stand out – and most of them play for Benfica in Portugal. Former Chelsea youngster Nemanja Matić is arguably the most reputable, but his club and international team-mates Miralem Sulejmani and Filip Đuričić are also outstanding young talents.

Add to that Inter midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanović and ex-Manchester United man Zoran Tošić.

One wildcard currently on international exile, but a player that could make all the difference for Serbia, is Adem Ljajić. The Roma playmaker refused to sing the country’s national anthem last year before a game against Spain for personal reasons, and Mihajlović took this as a lack of commitment.

The mercurial midfielder has been omitted from the squad since, but reconciliation between manager and player needs to happen. Ljajić is a game-changer, a match-winner and he would be the gem of Serbia’s new exciting team.

In attack, two Serbian teenagers have the potential to be world-beaters. Lazar Marković has recently followed his compatriots to Benfica after two excellent breakthrough seasons at Partizan Belgrade. The right winger’s trickery and skill has dazzled spectators and he is being tipped to be a top-quality player in the near future. Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the 19-year-old for some time and were actually believed to have signed him, but Marković should turn into a superstar at Benfica.

Against Croatia an 18-year-old striker by the name of Aleksandar Mitrović led the line by himself. A debut campaign for Partizan that yielded 13 goals in 28 appearances was enough to convince Belgian side Anderlecht to break their club transfer record to sign him for €5 million. He should be worth ever penny.

Already an all-round striker with physical and technical attributes galore, Mitrović is a mercurial talent.

Of Serbia’s squad to play against Croatia and Wales, the oldest two players are aged 30, with 16 of the 25-man squad aged 25 or under. If the wealth of talent can be successfully managed by Mihajlović, and Ljajić is brought back into the fold, the future of Serbian football looks very bright.

Each of the young superstars will continue to progress with top European sides and the Serbs will be a team that most will look to avoid in upcoming qualification for Euro 2016.