Vidic keen to swerve England meeting

Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic admits he is keen to avoid a second-round meeting with England at the World Cup.

Drawn in Group D along with Germany, Australia and Ghana, their first opponents in Pretoria on Sunday, Serbia know if they advance to the last 16 they have a good chance of meeting the Three Lions in the first knockout round.

For Vidic that would offer the opportunity to try and stop Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney in his tracks.

However, having failed to collect a single point in Germany four years ago and ended up ranked 32nd and last of the finalists, Vidic is wary of spending too much time thinking about a match he actually hopes does not take place.

"If we got to the second round I would like to miss England," said the tough-tackling centre-half, now widely recognised as one of the best defenders in the world.

"England are the strongest team we could play, so I would prefer to avoid them.

"I play in England. I play against these players and I train with some of them every day.

"But it is best to focus on the first game because success at the World Cup for Serbia would be to reach the second round.

"If we do that we would be happy. After that everything else is extra."

Now 28, Vidic is also aware this may be his last chance to make an impact on the biggest stage.

The Manchester United defender has already established himself as one of the best players in the world but has hinted he will consider his international future once this tournament is over.

"It is a big thing for anyone to play at a World Cup," he said. "I am no different.

"But I don't just want to play. I want to do well.

"I want to achieve something I can be proud of.

"I have reached an age where it could be my last World Cup so I will give everything I can to make it a positive experience, for both myself and the team."