Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Serbia v Switzerland LIVE: Bitter rivals clash for place in World Cup last 16

talksport.com, 1 December 2022, 10:34
Serbia and Switzerland meet on Friday evening, with the winner almost guaranteed to claim a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

These two are bitter rivals due to their past historical issues.

Advertisement

And given the winner will likely make it into the World Cup knockout phase, this could turn into one of the best games of the tournament.

Switzerland know that a win will seal their place in the knockout rounds, while Serbia have to earn three points and hope Brazil don't lose to Cameroon to go through.

The Swiss have looked solid defensively in both of their opening matches and the Eagles have been better going forward, so it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.

Advertisement

Serbia v Switzerland: talkSPORT coverage

This Group G clash will take place on Friday, December 2.

The game at Stadium 974 in Ras Abu Aboud is due to kick-off at 7pm UK time.

talkSPORT 2 will have full coverage of the clash and commentary will come from Adam Bridge and Sheffield United Women's striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk.

Advertisement

Serbia v Switzerland: Squads and team news

Serbia might be without Strahinja Pavlovic after he limped off in the closing stages against Cameroon.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic has yet to start for Dragan Stojkovic's side but could be paired with Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, former Liverpool and Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri was left on the bench as a precaution against Brazil but might be fit enough to return to the starting XI.

Serbia

Goalkeepers: Marko Dmitrovic Predrag Rajkovic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Defenders: Stefan Mitrovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Milos Veljkovic, Filip Mladenovic, Strahinja Erakovic, Srdjan Babic

Midfielders: Nemanja Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Marko Grujic, Filip Kostic, Uros Racic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Ivan Ilic, Andrija Zivkovic, Darko Lazovic

Forwards: Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Filip Duricic, Luka Jovic, Nemanja Radonji

Switzerland

Advertisement

Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Jonas Omlin, Philipp Kohn, Gregor Kobel

Defenders: Fabian Schar, Silvan Widmer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji, Eray Comert, Nico Elvedi

Midfielders: Edimilson Fernandes, Michel Aebischer, Fabian Frei, Renato Steffen, Djibril Sow, Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria, Ardon Jashari, Remo Freuler, Fabian Rieder

Forwards: Ruben Vargas, Haris Seferovic, Breel Embolo, Noah Okafor, Christian Fassnacht

Serbia v Switzerland: Match facts

Serbia and Switzerland met in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Swiss came from behind to win 2-1, with Xherdan Shaqiri netting a 90th minute winning goal.

Serbia have lost their final group stage games in each of their three previous FIFA World Cup participations as an independent nation, conceding at least twice in each defeat.

A win for Switzerland will guarantee them a place in the knockout stages of the World Cup. They've not lost their final group game in any of their last four participations (W2 D2).

Following a 1-0 defeat to Brazil on MD2, Switzerland are looking to avoid losing consecutive games in the World Cup for the first time since 1994, losing to Colombia and Spain.

Serbia drew their first ever World Cup match last time out (W2 L8), with their 3-3 draw against Cameroon the first time they've ever scored as many as three goals in a single World Cup match.

Switzerland have only lost four of their last 17 World Cup group stage matches (W8 D5), though they did lose 1-0 to Brazil last time out. They haven't lost more than one group match in a tournament since 1966 (lost all three).

Five of Switzerland's six efforts at goal in their 1-0 defeat to Brazil on MD2 came in the second half, managing just one in the first half. Only three teams had fewer shots in the first halves of games across the opening two matches of the 2022 World Cup than the Swiss (4).

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored seven goals in his last six appearances for Serbia in all competitions - he's the only player to have scored more than one World Cup goal for the nation.

The only two Switzerland players to complete 100+ passes at the 2022 World Cup are central defensive duo Manuel Akanji (124) and Nico Elvedi (131). They have also passed to one another 46 times, the most of any two outfield Swiss players.

Dusan Tadic has been involved in eight goals in his last eight games for Serbia in all competitions (2 goals, 6 assists), including an assist in Serbia's last game against Cameroon.

Top News

26 November 2024 talksport.com Jeff Stelling has promised to take broadcasting to unprecedented highs - or lows - if his beloved Hartlepool achieve promotion. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly identified Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as a potential signing in the upcoming summer transfer window. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly prepared to hand call-ups to a pair of academy players for Thursday's night match in the Europa League. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes, aiming to maintain their flawless start to the 2024/25 Conference League, are set to take on Astana on Thursday afternoon for matchday four of the league phase. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Michael Owen admits he doesn't feel welcome at former club Liverpool - twenty years after his Anfield exit. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to sign a new goalkeeper in January following the news of a serious injury to Guglielmo Vicario. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Brighton are set to make Evan Ferguson available on loan in the January transfer window, talkSPORT understands. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Vinicius Junior will miss the opportunity to play in his favourite away stadium when Real Madrid face Liverpool this week. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to strengthen their case for a top-eight finish in the League Phase, FCSB will host Olympiacos at Arena Nationala in Bucharest for a Europa League match on Thursday night. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletic Bilbao will look to maintain their unbeaten start to their Europa League campaign when they welcome Elfsborg to San Mames on Thursday. 26 November 2024 talksport.com New York City FC have sacked Nick Cushing, paving the way for him to take over at Arsenal Women. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Guglielmo Vicario's injury absence could have huge implications on Tottenham's potential success this season. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has questioned whether Douglas Luiz would want to leave Juventus after just half a season. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly commenced the process of luring Sporting Lisbon attacker Geovany Quenda to Old Trafford. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard didn't need much time to think about the toughest opponent he has faced in his career. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface in 2025. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to full training with the Reds ahead of Wednesday's Champions League blockbuster against Real Madrid at Anfield. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to bounce back from their first defeat in the Conference League last time out, Hearts will travel to Jan Breydelstadion on Thursday evening to face Cercle Brugge in matchday four of the league phase. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez as an alternative to Alphonso Davies. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea make the trip to face Heidenheim in the Conference League this week as the overwhelming favourites to prevail at the FC Heidenheim Voith-Arena and lift the trophy come the end of the season. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will host a second Turkish side in back-to-back Europa League matchdays when they welcome Galatasaray to AFAS Stadion on Thursday. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Matchday five of the Europa League gets underway when Besiktas welcome Maccabi Tel Aviv to Istanbul, hoping to extend their winning streak. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Liverpool have become accustomed to losing out to Real Madrid in recent years but only one player has added insult to injury at Anfield. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together in the Conference League standings, Fiorentina and Pafos FC will both aim to improve their chances of a top-eight finish by winning at Stadio Franchi on Thursday. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Kostas Tsimikas has become the latest Liverpool player to be ruled out through injury. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Real Madrid put Liverpool in a headlock back in October 2014 and never let go. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Gareth Southgate has dropped the strongest hint yet that he may never return to football management. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Chelsea are considering a summer swoop to re-sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. 26 November 2024 talksport.com Noel Gallagher says he has the 'utmost respect' for football commentators after making his debut on TNT Sports earlier this month. 26 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to distance themselves from the role of continental whipping boys, Dynamo Kiev will welcome Viktoria Plzen to Volksparkstadion in Germany for a Europa League clash on Thursday night.