Spain is gearing up for their first match since their thrilling 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final at Berlin's Olympiastadion on July 14. This win secured their place in history as the first nation to claim the European Championship title four times.
La Roja were the dominant force throughout the tournament, and their triumph in Germany was well-deserved. Not only did they make history by becoming the first European team to win all seven matches in a major tournament (including the Euros and the World Cup), but they also set a new record with 15 goals, the most ever scored in a single European Championship.
Under the leadership of Luis de la Fuente, who took over as head coach in December 2022, Spain has been on an impressive run, winning 17 of their 21 matches. Euro 2024 marks De la Fuente's second major title with Spain, following their victory in the 2022-23 Nations League.
Spain’s journey to glory in the Nations League saw them top their group, which included Portugal, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, with 11 points from six games. They then defeated Italy in the semi-finals and won the final against Croatia on penalties after a goalless draw.
Currently ranked third in the world by FIFA, Spain is expected to be the favorite in League A Group 4 of the upcoming Nations League. They will kick off their campaign against Serbia, a team they’ve only faced once before, winning 2-0 in a friendly back in May 2012.
On the other side, Serbia, under the guidance of head coach Dragan Stojkovic, had high hopes for Euro 2024, as it was their first time competing as an independent nation since 2000. However, they fell short of expectations, finishing at the bottom of Group C with just two points from matches against England, Denmark, and Slovenia.
Despite this, Serbia had a successful run in their previous Nations League campaign, earning promotion to League A after topping League B Group 4 with four wins from six matches, ahead of Norway, Slovenia, and Sweden. Ranked 32nd in the world, Serbia has shown steady progress, moving up from League C to League A in the past three Nations League tournaments, with a record of nine wins, six draws, and only three defeats.
However, topping League A Group 4 will be a tough challenge for Serbia, especially as they face a formidable Spain team in their opening match on Thursday, a side that has only lost two of their last 21 international games since the start of 2023.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Serbia will be missing some key players for their upcoming match, as Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic are sidelined due to injuries, and Dusan Tadic has retired from international football. Additionally, striker Dusan Vlahovic and winger Filip Kostic are notable absences from Dragan Stojkovic's 25-man squad.
In their place, Stojkovic has called up five uncapped players, including Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic, Sunderland midfielder Milan Aleksic, and Millwall attacker Mihailo Ivanovic. These newcomers will be eager to make an impact on Thursday.
With Mitrovic out, Luka Jovic is expected to step in as the central striker, while Sasa Lukic will likely pair up with either Marko Grujic or Ivan Ilic in the midfield.
On the Spanish side, they too are dealing with injuries. Unai Simon (wrist), Mikel Merino (shoulder), Alvaro Morata (thigh), and Fermin Lopez (muscle) are all unavailable, and 38-year-old Jesus Navas has also hung up his boots for the national team.
Despite not having played for Manchester City this season, star midfielder Rodri is fit and ready to play. Valencia's 26-year-old midfielder Pepelu has earned his first senior call-up and could make his debut.
With Simon out, Arsenal’s David Raya might get the nod as the starting goalkeeper. Mikel Oyarzabal is expected to lead the attack in Morata's absence, with wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Serbia possible starting lineup:
Rajkovic; Veljkovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Zivkovic; Samardzic, S. Mitrovic; Jovic
Spain possible starting lineup:
Raya; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Oyarzabal
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Serbia 1-2 Spain
If Spain can carry their Euro 2024 form into Thursday's match, they should have little trouble overcoming a weakened Serbia side. With several key attackers missing for Serbia, breaking down Spain's solid defense could prove challenging.
