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Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic has rallied his team to decide their destiny and book a spot in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Serbia take on Switzerland in the final Group F match at Stadium 974 today in what promises to be charged affair as both teams share a lot of history.
The Eagles are bottom of the group on one point, two points behind second-placed Switzerland. Only a win would give Stokjovic's men any hope of progressing to the last 16. On the other hand, Switzerland would only need a draw if Cameroon does not beat Brazil.
“It is going to be a difficult match, but we need to decide on our destiny,” said Stojkovic yesterday.
“We have no dilemma; we will do our best. You can't win if you don't attack. We intend to play attacking football without forgetting to defend ourselves.
“We know that Switzerland are a very well-organised team, and this is a game of patience in which a lot of factors can be decisive, but to win, you need to attack,” added the 57-year-old whose side surrendered a 3-1 lead to finish 3-3 with Cameroon last time out.
Stojkovic said the Eagles would look for holes in the Swiss side like their cheese.
“We'd really like to talk about their cheese and find their weak spots - the holes - to get the result we aspire to,” Stojkovic said.
Serbia players and coaching staff during training.
“We knew after the draw was held that Brazil is an entirely different dimension and we would be fighting for second place with Cameroon and Switzerland.
These forecasts brought us to this point.
“We knew the match with Switzerland would be of major importance as the last one in the group, and this is what we're now faced with. We've witnessed a lot of surprises at this World Cup, but we will be ready.”
Serbia struggled in their opening match against Brazil, where they looked off the pace, a problem Stojkovic said he'd address and find out why.
However, in the Cameroon game, the team looked a bit sharper as striker Alexander Mitrovic who's recovering from an injury, found the net, while Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, an injury concern, has been used as a sub.
“Vlahovic is ready for the match and is much better physically than when we came to Doha. He could start tomorrow, but I cannot share this with
you today.”
The coach stressed his side have been working together on tactics in attack and especially defence to“avoid the mistakes that cost us the win (against Cameroon).”
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Swiss focused on winning
When Switzerland faced Serbia in the 2018 World Cup group stage in Russia, it was the first time the two nations had met on the football pitch – a game remembered for the celebrations of Captain Granit Xhaka and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri, both with Kosovan roots.
However, head coach Murat Yakin said yesterday that his team would concentrate on football and not outside talks.
“It's all about football tomorrow, and this is what is going to matter,” Yakin, who had called his current Swiss side the best-ever in the country's history, told reporters.
“We need to play our football, and it is important that we stick to our plan. We aim to qualify, and we need to give it our best to ensure we deserve to win by putting everything out there on the pitch. It is not going to be easy against this opponent, but we are a strong team. We have the experience and the qualities to qualify.”
Switzerland have made the knockout stages in recent major tournaments, reaching at least the Round of 16 in the last two World Cups and European Championships.
Yakin insisted they will meet the challenge and are in an excellent position due to their last two matches, a win against Cameroon and a lone-goal loss to Brazil.
“We are optimistic and will try to do everything we can to qualify. It's still up to us, and that's a good thing.”
When: Today at 10pm
Where: Stadium 974
Capacity: 44,089
Key stats:
- Bottom side Serbia sit two points behind second-placed Switzerland and must win to have any hopes of progressing to
the last 16.
- Serbia have never qualified for the knockout stages.
- Switzerland are looking to reach the last 16 for the third time in a row and would need only a draw if Cameroon do not beat Brazil.
- Switzerland have never lost their final group game at their last four World Cups.
Previous meetings:
- Switzerland beat Serbia in the only meeting between the two sides, when they met at the same stage in the 2018 World Cup.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring early for Serbia in that match, before Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri scored in the second half to seal the three points. All three players are in their respective squads this year as well.