The lowdown on Scotland's Euro 2020 opponents Serbia
Scotland's Euro 2020 aspirations will be decided in Belgrade on Thursday night as they face Serbia in a winner-takes-all clash.
Here is the lowdown on the team standing in the way of Steve Clarke's men.
Form
While Steve Clarke's team are riding a wave of optimism after piecing together an eight-game unbeaten run, it is a much more mixed picture for Thursday's opponents, who have not won a game inside 90 minutes in almost a year. Since edging past minnows Luxembourg 3-2 last November the Serbs have drawn with Ukraine, lost to Russia and Hungary and twice fought out stalemates with Turkey. However, the one win they did manage was all-important as last month's extra-time triumph over Norway in their play-off semi-final stunned Erling Braut Haaland and co and teed up this week's winner-takes-all clash with the Scots.
Manager
Ljubisa Tumbakovic built his reputation with Partizan Belgrade, leading the Serbian giants to a record six domestic titles and three national cup wins over two spells with the club. The 68-year-old has also spent time working in Greece, Saudi Arabia, Iran and China, where he twice tasted Super League glory with Shandong Luneng. Tumbakovic moved into international management with Montenegro in 2016 before returning to his homeland to take over the Eagles last summer.
Key Players
Serbia's preparations have been hit by Covid-19 issues. Sassuolo midfielder Filip Duricic, who netted both goals when the teams last met in 2013, has been ruled out after a positive test. However, four other players based in Italy have joined up with the squad despite reports that coronavirus travel restrictions would prevent them from facing Clarke's side. Inter Milan defender Aleksandar Kolarov and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic Savic arrived in Belgrade early on Monday after finding a way around the rules, and they were followed by Fiorentina pair Nikola Milenkovic and Dusan Vlahovic late on Monday night.
History
Serbia was the major constituent of the Yugoslav nation which twice finished runners-up in the Euros of 1960 and 1968 as well as reaching the last four of the World Cup in 1930 and 1962. Serbia has competed as an independent nation since 2006 following the break up of Yugoslavia and a later split with Montenegro. They qualified for the World Cups of 2010 and 2018 but failed to make it past the group stages.
Previous meetings
It took Yugoslavia until their final meeting with Scotland in 1989 to register a victory having twice previously suffered defeat, with the other five meetings ending in a draw. The dissolution of the country followed in 1993 and it would be another 19 years before the Serbs would visit Hampden, claiming a goalless draw in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Duricic then shot down Craig Levein's team in Novi Sad seven months later to leave the former Hearts and Dundee United boss clinging onto his job.