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A assured Serbia will head to Qatar boasting a wealthy vein of type and a free-scoring Aleksandar Mitrovic up entrance.
Earlier World Cup appearances: 2
Titles: 0
Greatest end: Group stage (2010, 2018)
World Cup report: W2 D0 L4
Objectives: 4
Greatest win: 1-0 v Germany (2010)
Participant to look at: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Rating: 21
Fixtures: Brazil (November 24), Cameroon (November 28), Switzerland (December 2)
Serbia can be making its third look on the World Cup as an impartial nation after debuting at South Africa 2010.
Serbia additionally performed in Russia 2018, the place they beat Costa Rica of their opening match, however did not qualify for the knockouts after shedding the subsequent two group matches towards Switzerland and Brazil.
They are going to open their 2022 marketing campaign towards their final World Cup opponents, and perennial match favourites, Brazil, on November 24. Brazil’s match pedigree won’t dampen the spirits of this well-knit Serbian facet, who’ve a robust attacking drive and have had a profitable run within the lead-up to the match.
Serbia completed their World Cup qualifying marketing campaign by beating Portugal away and topping their group. Captain Dusan Tadic credited coach Dragan Stojkovic with serving to the group to raise their efficiency in the course of the qualification part.
“The expertise of enjoying at a World Cup is important,” Tadic advised Fifa.com. “Stojkovic has performed at a number of World Cups, scored targets and offered assists and is aware of every little thing there’s to know. He passes all this data and expertise on to us, and we love working with him.”
The Serbian “legend” reworked the group’s assault, bringing the specified outcomes. Serbia performed six UEFA Nations League matches this yr and received 4 of them.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has been in excellent type for his nation. He top-scored of their World Cup qualifying group, forward of Cristiano Ronaldo, with eight targets, and scored one other six within the Nations League.
The 28-year-old ahead is brimming with confidence forward of the match.
“We now have a tricky group with sturdy groups and glorious gamers, however that’s why we play the sport,” he mentioned. “We need to be there and compete with the most effective – we will’t wait. I’m very assured, however I believe the entire group and the entire nation really feel the identical.”
Whereas Serbia have turn out to be a drive to be reckoned with in assault, their issues in defence have been uncovered. The retirement of Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov might have helped on the flanks, but it surely has shorn them of expertise on the again.
Nevertheless, Stojkovic and his males will depend on the shut bonds and up to date expertise of defeating large names to convey them success in Qatar. It additionally helps that a lot of the squad members have been a part of the FIFA Beneath-20 World Cup successful squad from 2015.
Tadic believes that the expertise of successful on an enormous stage will assist his facet.
“A lot of the gamers within the present Serbia group belong to that era [Under-20 team], and I believe that’s going to be an enormous plus for us,” he mentioned.
If Serbia don’t handle to succeed in the round-of-16, it will likely be seen as a disappointing consequence for a group that has had a lot current success. Mitrovic may have an enormous function to play in making certain Serbia’s qualification, and he’s conscious of the accountability.
“You’re underneath lots of strain whenever you’re a striker,” he admitted. “I like to attain and to really feel the strain on my shoulders. I do know what everybody expects from me.”
The group, he mentioned, is effectively ready to fulfill the followers’ expectations.
“The very best is but to come back. We’re in our prime.”
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