But one big winner could be Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of Serbia's extreme-nationalist Radical Party.

ECONOMIST: Tensions boil over again in the troubled Serbian province

Balaban's selection means Wolfsburg striker Tomislav Maric, who made a poor start on his international debut in April, misses out.

BBC: Balaban gets Croatia call

Tomislav Nikolic had recently persuaded his Serbian Radical Party to approve the ratification of an important agreement with the European Union.

BBC: Serb opposition leader resigns

"I kneel and ask for forgiveness, " President Tomislav Nikolic told Bosnian TV.

CNN: SHARE THIS

Three new faces have been included, although only the 28-year-old Wolfsburg striker Tomislav Maric is rated as a real option for the World Cup.

BBC: Big names miss friendly

The final week of negotiations saw moments of alarming drama, notably the election on May 8th of Tomislav Nikolic, leader of the extreme nationalist Radical Party, as parliamentary speaker.

ECONOMIST: Serbia's new government

Yet as kingmaker Mr Dacic dropped his alliance with the Democratic Party of Boris Tadic in favour of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) led by Tomislav Nikolic, who defeated Mr Tadic in the presidential election.

ECONOMIST: Serbia��s government

This is because the largest Serbian opposition group, the ultranationalist Radical Party, has imploded thanks to an internal war between the devotees of Vojislav Seselj, currently standing trial for war crimes at the United Nations' tribunal in The Hague, and the allies of the more pragmatic Tomislav Nikolic, who led the party within Serbia.

ECONOMIST: The Serbian president has become unusually powerful