The Serbian national team is heading to the 2024 European Championship for the second time in its history, following their debut in the tournament in 2000. Known as the “White Eagles,” the Serbians currently hold the 32nd spot in the FIFA rankings. In the upcoming Euro, they find themselves in Group C, facing tough competition from England, Slovenia, and Denmark – a challenging lineup for the Balkan team.
On June 16, in the first round, Serbia will clash with the formidable England, one of the tournament favorites. Then, on June 20, they will meet the less renowned but highly organized Slovenia, and the group stage will conclude on June 25 with a match against the Scandinavian dynamo, Denmark. Considering the strength of their opponents, Serbia faces the formidable task of advancing to the playoffs from one of the top two spots in the group.
Can Serbia navigate through such a challenging group? Prediction enthusiasts can download and install the Android APK application from the Melbet bookmaker and test their skills in forecasting football matches.
Playing Style: Up and Down
Serbia’s playing style often faces criticism for an excessive reliance on crosses and physical battles. Their attacking maneuvers mostly revolve around endless crosses into the opponent’s penalty area, counting on the physical advantage of their tall players. At times, it seems that the “White Eagles” simply lack the ability to play differently, with only occasional glimpses of more intricate combinations towards the opponent’s goal.
In defense, Serbians prefer a high defensive line and aggressive pressing across the field. Defender Strahinja Pavlovic stands out in this aspect, making a name for himself with impactful tackles in Europe. However, the team often loses control when in possession, acting chaotically and unpredictably, causing issues not only for opponents but also for their own teammates.
Progress Halted
Unfortunately, the Serbian national team continues to struggle with a range of flaws and shortcomings that they failed to address after the last year’s World Cup in Qatar. Defensive chaos persists, and in the attack, strange and unexplainable errors persist, challenging even the high level of their performers.
The team often creates numerical advantages on the flanks but fails to capitalize on them, turning promising attacks into meaningless crosses. In defensive situations, Serbians act passively, not supporting the ball carrier but simply waiting for them to lose possession. All these problems cast a shadow on the relatively successful qualification cycle for Euro 2024, where the “Eagles” finished second in their group.
Stars of the Attack and Midfield
Despite these drawbacks, the “White Eagles” have strong points, with the standout being their exceptional selection of forwards. Serbia boasts the rare luxury of having two outstanding forwards in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.
The 29-year-old Mitrovic is not only the leading goal-scorer and captain but also the undisputed leader, charging his teammates with energy, motivation, and an unbridled passion for the game. His energy could power a small power station! Despite his recent move to the Saudi club “Al-Hilal,” Mitrovic continues to demonstrate outstanding productivity – 17 goals in 17 matches.
The 23-year-old Vlahovic is going through a challenging period in “Juventus” but is still considered one of the main hopes of Serbian football. Thanks to his versatility and talent, the young forward could become a true “joker” for the national team in Euro 2024 if given the chance. His current transfer value is estimated at 60 million euros.
Power Football and Physical Strength
In addition to outstanding forwards, the Serbian national team excels in duels and physical play, allowing them to compensate for a lack of finesse with pressure and aggression. The team consistently wins aerial duels and rebounds due to the tall average height of their players.
The team also features a powerful central axis, where players like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and 20-year-old defender Strahinja Pavlovic shine. The latter, in particular, stands out – his adept reading of the game and crushing tackles have already become legendary in Europe. Together, they form a reliable backbone capable of facing any opponent.
Coaching Dilemma?
However, the main weakness of the “White Eagles” remains their coach, Dragan Stojkovic, whose tactical flexibility leaves much to be desired. Despite the national team’s failure in last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where they displayed an unclear and individually dependent style of play, Stojkovic managed to retain his position, surprising many Serbian fans and experts.
Under the guidance of the 57-year-old coach, the team shows a decent win percentage, but their game is limited to primitive crosses to Mitrovic and Vlahovic, relying on the success of their tall forwards. Stojkovic persistently ignores the team’s obvious problems in positional attacks and the organization of play in the midfield.
It seems that the coach either doesn’t know how or doesn’t want to adopt a modern attacking model. The results of the national team are easily predictable – victories over clearly weak opponents and defeats against roughly equal or stronger teams. The upcoming Euro 2024 will likely be Stojkovic’s last chance to prove his worth at the highest level.
