Preview: Serbia vs Spain – prediction, team news, lineups

Less than seven weeks after their Euro 2024 victory, Spain travel to the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade to take on Serbia in their opening match of the 2024-25 season UEFA Nations League on Thursday evening.

La Roja are the reigning champions of the Nations League and compete alongside Serbia in League A Group 4 with Denmark and Switzerland.

Match Preview

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Spain are preparing for their first match since beating England 2-1 in the final of Euro 2024 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14, becoming the first country to win the tournament four times.

La Roja were by far the best players on the continent and deservedly triumphed in Germany. Not only did they become the first European nation to win all seven matches at a major tournament (European Championship and World Cup), they also scored more goals (15) than any other team in the history of the European Championship.

Luis de la Bron has won 17 of his 21 matches as Spain manager since taking over in December 2022, with Euro 2024 marking his second major title after previously leading his country to victory in the 2022-23 Nations League.

Spain finished top of their group, ahead of Portugal, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, after collecting 11 points from six games. They then defeated Italy in the semi-finals and Croatia on penalties in the final, following a 0-0 draw.

Spain are ranked third in the FIFA world rankings and are favourites to win Group 4 of League A this time around. Spain will start the season against a Serbian team they have only met once in the previous round, winning 2-0 in a friendly in May 2012.

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Serbia participated in the European Championship this summer for the first time as an independent country since 2000. Many expected the country to survive the group stage, but in the end it was a disappointment.

Indeed, Dragan Stojkovic has now failed to win a single one of his six matches as Serbia coach at major tournaments. The Eagles finished bottom of Group C at Euro 2024, having picked up just two points from games against England, Denmark and Slovenia.

Serbia enjoyed more joy in their previous Nations League campaign, as they secured promotion to Division A by winning four of their six matches to finish top of Division B Group 4, ahead of Norway, Slovenia and Sweden.

Serbia is ranked 32nd in the FIFA world rankings and has even been promoted from Division C to Division A in the last three Nations League tournaments, with nine wins, six draws and only three defeats.

The Eagles may struggle to win League A Group 4 this time around. They face a tough opening game on Thursday against Spain, who have lost just two of their last 21 matches since the start of 2023.

Form Serbia (all competitions):

Spain form (all competitions):

Team News

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Serbia will have to do without an important duo Alexander Mitrovic And Sergej Milinkovic-Savic due to an injury, and Dusan Tadic has retired from international football, while striker Dusan Vlahovic and versatile winger Filip Kostic are two notable absentees from Stojkovic’s 25-man squad.

Five players who have not previously played an international match have been called up by Stojkovic, including the Aston Villa right-back Kosta NedeljkovicSunderland midfielder Milan Aleksic and Millwall striker Mikhail Ivanovicall of whom hope to be present in some way on Thursday.

Luka Jovic is expected to start as a central striker in Mitrovic’s absence, while Sasa Lukic and either Marko Grujic or Iwan Ilic could work together in midfield.

As for Spain, One of Simon (wrist), Mikel Merino (shoulder), Alvaro Morata (thigh) and Fermin Lopez (muscle) are both out due to injury, while the 38-year-old Jesus Navas has retired from international football.

Star midfielder Rodri has yet to kick a ball for Manchester City this season but is fit and available for selection, while the 26-year-old Valencia midfielder Pepelu has received his first call-up to the senior team and is in contention to make his debut.

The absence of goalkeeper Simon could increase Arsenal’s chances of defeat. David Raya given a start between the posts, while Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to lead the attacking line in Morata’s absence, with wingers supporting the attack Laminate Yamal And Nico Williams.

Possible Serbia line-up:
Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Zivkovic; Samardzic, S. Mitrovic; Jovic

Possible line-up Spain:
Raya; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal

We say: Serbia 0-2 Spain

If Spain want to pick up the thread and perform as well as they did at Euro 2024 on Thursday, they will have little trouble beating a weakened Serbia. Serbia are missing a number of key attackers and will find it difficult to beat a strong La Roja.

For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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