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Published on Sep, 05 2024
Almost two months on from Spain's UEFA Euro 2024 triumph, La Roja get back to business against Serbia for the opening game of their UEFA Nations League campaign at Rajko Mitic Stadium on Thursday. The Spanish are also defending UNL champions and find themselves in League A Group 4 along with Denmark and Switzerland with this the first outing for Luis de la Fuente's side since they beat England 2-1 in the Euro final in Berlin back in July.
Now four-time European champions of Europe having won all seven games at a major international tournament which was a first for a European nation, Spain also out-scored everyone in Germany. De la Fuente has a record of 17 wins from 21 games so far with two titles to his name which places the Spanish third in the FIFA world rankings. Favorites to win League A Group 4, La Roja go up against a Serbian side that they have only faced in a 2012 friendly so far.
Dragan Stojkovic's side were at this summer's Euro as an independent nation for the first time since 2000 this summer but they flopped and did not make it past the group stage. With no wins from six games at major international tournaments, Stojkovic needs improvement. They did get promoted to this level of the Nations League ahead of Slovenia, Sweden and Norway and are 32nd in the FIFA world rankings. Topping Spain, Switzerland and Denmark will be a tall order though.
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How to watch and odds
Joining European champions Spain and Serbia in League A Group 4 will be Switzerland and Denmark. Although the Danes are declining somewhat after a spell as a force to be reckoned with at major international tournaments, the Swiss are establishing a very solid reputation for themselves and made it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual beaten finalists England on penalties.
Serbia: Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are out injured while Dusan Tadic has retired internationally and Dusan Vlahovic as well as Filip Kostic have been left out. Kosta Nedeljkovic, Milan Aleksic and Mihailo Ivanovic are part of a group of five uncapped players called up while Luka Jovic is expected to start up top. Sasa Lukic and Marko Grujic or Ivan Ilic could form part of Stojkovic's midfield.
Possible Serbia XI: Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Zivkovic; Samardzic, S. Mitrovic; Jovic.
Spain: Unai Simon, Mikel Merino, Alvaro Morata and Fermin Lopez are all out while Jesus Navas has retired internationally. Rodri is not yet back in action for Manchester City and Pepelu has been called up for the first time. David Raya could start in goal while Mikel Oyarzabal should lead the line flanked by Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Possible Spain XI: Raya; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal.
It is likely to be a tricky return to action for Spain but they should get past Serbia by a goal or two to launch this Nations League campaign with a win. Pick: Serbia 0, Spain 1.
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