Preview: Qatar vs. Serbia - prediction, team news, lineups

Serbia, who failed to qualify for Euro 2020, are playing their first fixture since posting disappointing results against Jamaica and Japan during June.

Match preview

When Qatar were awarded the 2022 World Cup, there were question marks over whether they could put a team together which had the potential to be competitive.

However, over the past year, Felix Sanchez has witnessed his side record several promising results, capped off by an appearance in the last four of the Gold Cup.

Succumbing to an 86th-minute goal against United States hurt this group of players, but they were able to reflect on a hugely-successful tournament after wins over Honduras and El Salvador.

The defeat against USA ended a run of 12 matches without defeat, the most notable result during that period being a 1-1 draw versus Republic of Ireland.

Serbia undoubtedly provide a step up in class to the teams that Qatar have faced, but that will not stop The Maroon believing that they can post another surprise result.

Weakened sides were unable to defeat either Jamaica or Japan at the end of last season, extending Serbia's wait for another clean sheet to five games.

That will not stop Dragan Stojkovic talking up the performances of his side during World Cup qualifying with seven points being collected from meetings with Republic of Ireland, Portugal and Azerbaijan.

Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic netted five times during that triple-header, taking him to the top of the scoring charts for the European section.

While Qatar posted a 3-0 victory over Wednesday's opponents in 2016, Serbia's only player of note on that occasion was a 19-year-old Nikola Milenkovic.

Qatar form (all competitions):

Serbia form (all competitions):

Team News

With important fixtures against Luxembourg and Republic of Ireland on the horizon, Stojkovic is likely to name a second-string Serbia XI.

However, Luka Jovic and Dusan Vlahovic could be named in attack, with Monaco defender Strahinja Pavlovic getting another opportunity in a back three.

Ivan Ilic, who has recently left Manchester City for Hellas Verona, may win his third cap in midfield.

While Sanchez will look to make full use of a large squad during Qatar's stay in Europe, he could name the same team which started against USA for this game.

That would see Qatar line up in a 5-3-2 formation with Hassan Al-Haydos winning his 139th cap in midfield.

Qatar possible starting lineup:

Barsham; Correia, Hisham, Khoukhi, Hassan, Ahmed; Al-Haydos, Boudiaf, Hatem; Ali, Afif

Serbia possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Spajic, Nastasic, Pavlovic; Petkovic, Lukic, Ilic, Duricic, Terzic; Jovic, Vlahovic

We say: Qatar 1-3 Serbia

Regardless of the form of Qatar, we cannot back against Serbia in this match. They started to find their groove during the early World Cup qualifiers, and a group of players with a point to prove will want to impress here.