PRISTINA, March 30 (Reuters) - Under ⁠Serbian rule in the 1990s, sportingevents in Kosovo were banned and soccer games were ⁠held privately. After matches, players washed off in small rivers or with melted snow.

Today, ‌Kosovo are on the verge of winning a spot in the World Cup finals for the first time - a potentially momentous sporting turnaround for Europe's youngest nation.