According to coach Dragan Stojkovic, Serbia “will be ready” for a mandatory victory over Switzerland to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
With just one game left in Group G, Brazil have already made it to the Round of 16 and the pair will compete for a place in the final play-offs alongside Cameroon.
Switzerland are second with three points, while Serbia are at the bottom of the table with one point, behind the Indomitable Lions on goal difference.
But a win would allow them to overtake their rivals and potentially qualify if Cameroon doesn’t also win, with Stojkovic drawing a dairy analogy to point to his side’s plans.
“We would really like to talk about their cheese and find their weak points – holes – to get a result,” he said.
“After the draw, we knew that Brazil is a completely different dimension, and we will fight for second place with Cameroon and Switzerland.
7. Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored seven goals in Serbia’s last six appearances in all competitions, with the Fulham striker becoming the first player to score more than once in the World Cup for the national team. Poacher. pic.twitter.com/CZT6yN0OpU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 28, 2022
“We knew the match against Switzerland was going to be big as the last one in the group and that’s what we’re facing now. We have witnessed many surprises at this World Cup, but we will be ready.”
Serbia had to be nervous that Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic was in good shape, but Stojkovic confirmed he would be ready for the decider.
However, he was not brought to bear on whether he would start, adding: “[His] the physical condition is much better than it was when we arrived in Doha.
“He could start [Friday]but I can’t share it with you today.”
