The night of 14 October 2014 in Belgrade, the tensions over Kosovo, the chants that recall the dramatic times of the war: the story of two worlds that are difficult to reconcile. And ready to meet again on the field: a place at the World Cup is up for grabs
Tunnel separating changing rooms and pitch in the Stadion Jna in Belgrade, home of Partizan. Very delicate moment: it is said that in the five minutes before the start of a match the highlights of the entire career pass in front of a player. Maybe even his own life. A silent short film that must trigger adrenaline and take away fear: the player selects the music, the important thing is that it energizes the mind, heart and legs. But on 14 October 2014 inside the tunnel there is no need to press play in the minds of the two teams who are about to face each other on the pitch. The short film started weeks, months ago. In the locker rooms and above all in the stands, all that is expected is that match. That evening, in Belgrade, years of negotiations and laborious attempts at détente vanished, while nationalistic sparks that had always been laboriously kept under the carpet returned to the surface. Never throw in the garbage. Because it’s Serbia-Albania evening. The game will be played on October 14th, so to speak. On the morning of the 15th the whole world sensed that a diplomatic crisis had opened. And shortly after there are those who try to go further and ask: “But how is it possible that that match wasn’t banned?”. I wonder if anyone will be wondering this even now, ten years later. Serbia-Albania, new tour in the tunnel. And this time the World Cup is up for grabs.
