Yugoslavia accepts it is time to change

YUGOSLAVIA will break with decades of sartorial tradition when they take to the field in their opening World Cup game against Iran today. The Yugoslav football team will wear a darker navy blue shirt with a new national badge - complete with Serbian eagle.

For the last six years the Yugoslavs have worn a bland design featuring a football and the initials of the JSF, the Yugoslav Football Federation. It had been hastily introduced during the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, replacing the Communist-era badge - a red star with six flames representing the six republics of the old federation.

With Yugoslavia now down to just two republics, Serbia and Montenegro, the new shirt features two gold stars. The logo also includes a double- headed eagle - an ancient Serbian symbol restored by the Yugoslav state in recent years.