Sky's the limit for Serbia's Čosić

Having qualified for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship semi-finals for the third time, Serbia defender Uroš Čosić believes anything is now possible for Dejan Govedarica's side.

A 1-1 draw in their final group game against Belgium allowed Serbia to hold off Turkey to secure second place in Group B and set up a last-four meeting with the Czech Republic. Yet now that they have reached their first target at this year's tournament in Romania Čosić's side are ready to kick on, the captain telling UEFA.com: "If we stick together and do what we set out to in the dressing room we can go far. In terms of our strengths, I would point to team spirit and the good atmosphere among the squad as opposed to individual flair and that's what can help us to achieve our aims."

Čosić was suspended for the 2-0 defeat of Turkey on Matchday 1 and returned next time out against Spain, although there was little he could do to prevent a 4-0 defeat against rampant opponents. "That result was deserved," admitted the PFC CSKA Moskva centre-back, currently on loan at FK Crvena zvezda. "In the first match we were worth the victory as we created a lot of opportunities but in the next, Spain were definitely the better team and we didn't help ourselves by playing more defensively than we would have liked.

"They beat us by a big margin that night and demonstrated so much quality while doing so I have no problem in saying they are the team I have been most impressed by at the tournament."

The outcome of that game meant that Serbia needed at least a point in against the Belgians to extend their stay in Bucharest and they got just that thanks to Andrej Mrkela's goal in a 1-1 draw in Buftea. "Having got here to join the best eight teams in Europe has been a huge learning experience for all of us," Čosić said. "For me even more so as I am the captain of the squad, which is a big deal in a tournament like this. My responsibility is not just to speak up out on the pitch, it is the same in the hotel and everywhere else."

Citing Nemanja Vidić as his favourite player, Čosić said he would be more than happy to follow in the footsteps of the Manchester United FC and Serbia central defender. "He plays in the same position as me and I look up to him," the 18-year old said. "He also played for Crvena zvezda like me; that's my favourite club and my goal after these finals will be to become a regular there during the year I have left on my [loan] deal." Before focusing on that, though, the defender must lead his side out against the Czech Republic in Friday's semi-final.