At the recent Euro 2024, Serbia and Spain displayed vastly different performances, highlighting the gap in class between the two sides. The Serbian side will face a tough challenge against the Euro 2024 champions even on home field in Belgrade, as the favourites aim to keep their winning streak alive.
In the continental tournament, Serbia failed to solve the issue of utilising their star players, Aleksandar Mitrović and Dušan Vlahović, simultaneously. The Juventus forward even started the third-round match against Denmark (0:0) on the bench, which didn't help them advance to the playoffs. They managed to create only 2.19 xG over 270 minutes at Euro 2024, with their sole goal coming from AC Milan’s reserve striker Luka Jović. Despite these organisational problems, the coaching staff retained their positions.
The experiment of promoting Spain’s U21 coach Luis de la Fuente to the senior team after their World Cup 2022 failure can be deemed successful. The Spanish side not only secured seven consecutive wins at Euro 2024 but also broke the record for the most goals scored (15) in a European Championship. It seems likely they will use the Nico Williams – Lamine Yamal duo upfront, with Mikel Oyarzabal assisting them in attack (their main forward Álvaro Morata is injured).
In Belgrade, a plenty of goal-scoring opportunities is unlikely as both teams ease into their playing rhythm. Spain is expected to secure a routine victory over Serbia, given the significant class difference between the two teams.
|
Dragan Stojkovic
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
In squad
|
|||
Predrag Rajković
|
gk. | 35 | -29 |
Djordje Petrovic
|
gk. | 3 | -5 |
Aleksandar Jovanović
|
gk. | 1 | -1 |
Marko Ilić
|
gk. | 1 | 0 |
Nikola Milenković
|
df. | 56 | 3 |
Strahinja Pavlović
|
df. | 38 | 4 |
Miloš Veljković
|
df. | 33 | 1 |
Srđan Babić
|
df. | 8 | 1 |
Strahinja Eraković
|
df. | 8 | 1 |
Aleksa Terzić
|
df. | 6 | 0 |
Jan-Carlo Šimić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
Kosta Nedeljković
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
Nemanja Maksimović
|
mf. | 49 | 0 |
Saša Lukić
|
mf. | 49 | 2 |
Marko Grujić
|
mf. | 24 | 0 |
Ivan Ilic
|
mf. | 19 | 0 |
Lazar Vujadin Samardžić
|
mf. | 11 | 0 |
Veljko Birmancevic
|
mf. | 7 | 0 |
Kristijan Belić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
Milan Aleksic
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
Andrija Živković
|
fw. | 49 | 1 |
|
Luka Jović
|
fw. | 38 | 11 |
Stefan Mitrovic
|
fw. | 2 | 0 |
|
Petar Ratkov
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
Mihailo Ivanovic
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luis de la Fuente
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
In squad
|
|||
David Raya
|
gk. | 6 | -3 |
Robert Lynch Sánchez
|
gk. | 2 | 0 |
Álex Remiro
|
gk. | 1 | -1 |
Daniel Carvajal
|
df. | 49 | 1 |
Aymeric Laporte
|
df. | 35 | 1 |
|
Pau Torres
|
df. | 24 | 1 |
Robin Le Normand
|
df. | 17 | 1 |
|
Marc Cucurella
|
df. | 10 | 0 |
Álex Grimaldo
|
df. | 6 | 0 |
|
Dani Vivian
|
df. | 4 | 0 |
Óscar Mingueza
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
Rodrigo Hernández
|
mf. | 54 | 4 |
Dani Olmo
|
mf. | 39 | 11 |
Fabián Ruiz
|
mf. | 29 | 4 |
|
Pedro González López
|
mf. | 24 | 2 |
Martín Zubimendi
|
mf. | 10 | 0 |
|
Aleix García
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
Pepelu
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ferrán Torres
|
fw. | 46 | 20 |
|
Mikel Oyarzabal
|
fw. | 37 | 12 |
|
Nicholas Williams Arthuer
|
fw. | 20 | 4 |
|
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana
|
fw. | 14 | 3 |
Joselu
|
fw. | 13 | 5 |
Yéremi Pino
|
fw. | 12 | 2 |
|
Ayoze Pérez
|
fw. | 2 | 1 |
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