Croatia were doing the same thing fifteen years ago, and have continued to produce top class footballers on a regular basis, so it's not unfeasible to think they're being held up as a model to follow by other Balkan nations (as well as Montenegro, Bosnia are also rapidly improving), but probably quite a few other non-Eastern Bloc nations as well.
Although I don't see Montenegran fans using Croatia's "We are a small country, but you are pussies" chant anytime soon...
