There's no easier game

September 9 was immediately "marked" in the calendar and it became clear to everyone that it is a game in which there is nothing to lose, and a lot can be gained.

Because, when all the current footballers of Serbia were small (including many of us who didn't become footballers) in front of their house, building or school yard, they shook the nets and passed the football between two bricks, dreaming of wearing the jersey of their national team of Serbia in a duel just like this.

It is an honor to play against Andorra and Latvia, but when the country that is the "cradle of football" comes to your feet, your dreams come true.

Dušan Milenković/Starsport

The pressure, realistically, does not exist. Because, who can expect that Serbia will knock down England, especially since victories over "big" selections are like Halley's Comet in our case.

But, precisely because of that, the huge motivation you have to have when you welcome the vice-champion of Europe, but also the fact that the stadium will be filled... This match becomes ideal for playing.

You've been waiting for this day all your life, you're playing against one of the biggest national teams in the world, you have over 40,000 fans behind you, and the stake is going to the World Cup. Sorry Latvians and Andorrans, there is simply no easier, or even more beautiful, game for Serbia.

EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI

No "flowers bloom" in England

Another fact is in favor of that, and it is clear to everyone in Europe, except maybe Thomas Tuchel - England, to say the least, is not shining. While the public on the "Island" does not hesitate to say that its national team is in trouble.

After a really "thin" 0:1 against Andorra in Barcelona, ​​in the second leg at "Villa Park" it was only 2:0, with an own goal by an outsider that was the only difference on the scoreboard for a long time. It wasn't until Declan Rice set the final score in the second half that the drama in Birmingham wasn't complete.

The traditionally inconvenient English media immediately "hit" hard and honored Thomas Tuchel in drawing the line after his first five games on the bench of the "Three Lions".

"After five games under Tuchel (the fifth is the defeat against Senegal), it is difficult to remember any positive aspects. The English team lacks creative impulses and even basic enthusiasm," the well-known "Sun" was critical.

Tanjug/AP Photo/Dave Shopland

"Daily Mail" called his national team "boring, boring England", and Tuchel "added fire" to all this with his mocking answers.

"I liked the way we played. It was good. Quite solid against a team that only defended in front of its own goal," Tuchel said, before accusing the fans at Villa Park.

"The atmosphere was definitely different from the usual one at Premier League games. It was not easy to play in such a situation," said Thomas Tuchel.

Roy Keane, expert consultant of "Sky Sport", also criticized him.

"The coach didn't look too happy at the end. Again, Tuchel will be frustrated with the second-half output. We're working on setting high standards, building good habits, and I still think England have gone back to their old habits. They've been characterized by lateral passes and back passes," described Keane and suggested:

"Our players need to center a little more, not to complicate the game. I still think they send the ball back too many times".

To collect the debt

To be clear, Serbia didn't shine against Latvia either, but if we have to agree with coach Dragan Stojković on something, it is in his opinion that the duels against Latvia and Serbia will be "heaven and earth".

After all, just a year ago we had a big clash with the English, at the start of the European Championship in Germany, when they "pulled through" and beat us 1:0. That duel could, or may not, be any rapper.

It's true, we don't have goalkeepers Rajković, Sergej Milinković-Savić and Dušan Tadić either, but without them we've gotten used to it, because most of last year's team is still there.

Serbia is richer for that experience and is certainly now more prepared for everything the English can and cannot do than it was before EURO 2024.

Who's going to play?

In front of all, the tandem that will form the last defense line in front of the goal, Djordje Petrović in goal and Nikola Milenkovic in front of him as the commander of the defense. Both of them are the leaders of the Premier League, who before this duel received extremely high respect from the English public, which is certainly no small thing.

The Bournemouth goalkeeper and the Nottingham Forest stopper are highly praised by the island's media, and right next to them are Strahinja Pavlović and Miloš Veljković, a little less beloved by Premier League reporters, but certainly with a good reputation.

The midfield could dominate in such matches, and Serbia should come out with another standard Premier League player, Saša Lukić, and the tireless Nemanja Maksimović next to him.

The task of creating chances for the forwards should fall on Lazar Samardžić, and it would be great if he finally delivers in a game like this.

Serbia's last training session removed doubts, so the attacking duo will not change. Dušan Vlahović and Luka Jović should represent a threat to England's defense, until Aleksandar Mitrović gets a chance in the second half.

New jersey

As is well known, the Serbian football team is in a new outfit. The white kit was presented three days ago in Riga, and this evening the national team will wear blue for the first time in 19 years.

The red one is no longer in use, but in the middle of the qualification cycle there was a change in the technical sponsor, so the FSS in cooperation with the American company "Capelli Sport" made a decision to completely withdraw the red equipment.

B92.sport/SS

The last time our national team in blue jersey played at the World Cup in Germany was on June 21, 2006 against Ivory Coast (2:3), but at that time it was called Serbia and Montenegro.

Opinions were divided after the promotion, but if the color blue will help to achieve a new participation in the biggest football show on the planet, there are few who will remain against such a change.

Who will be referee?

UEFA is aware of how big this match is, so it left nothing to chance and delegated one of the world's best referees - Clément Turpin.

The Frenchman is known to the Serbian national team. He led the "Eagles" matches against Montenegro in Podgorica (Serbia won 2:0 with two goals from Dušan Vlahović) in March 2023, as well as the draw against Switzerland (1:1) in Zurich during the 2024 Nations League.

Peđa Milosavljević/Starsport

Turpan is also a well-known face to the English - he served them justice six times. Under his leadership, they celebrated against Slovakia, Switzerland and Italy, played to a draw with Slovenia at the last EP, while they were defeated by the Netherlands (after extra time) and Hungary, both times in the League of Nations.

Turpan is increasingly gaining the reputation of a referee who does not hesitate to award a penalty. His refereeing often provokes reactions from fans, especially when it comes to the use of VAR technology.

That it is not just an impression, but is also shown by statistics from the UEFA competition - Turpan awards a penalty approximately every two matches, which is above the average for elite European referees.

So, when Clément Turpan is in the center, VAR has its hands full, so the players of both teams will have to be especially careful in the penalty area.