 Subotić got called up for the new coach's debut match against Estonia, but was an unused sub as Serbia disastrously lost a competitive match at home for the first time in nine years.Petrović gave Subotić a starting assignment for the next qualifier away at Italy in October 2010, but the infamous contest in Genoa got interrupted after six minutes due to rioting by the traveling Serbian hooligans, which resulted in an automatic 3–0 loss for Serbia.As the qualifying resumed in late March 2011, Subotić got the start at home against Northern Ireland.