Serbs face Swiss trial | The Daily Star
12:00 AM, June 22, 2018 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:06 AM, June 22, 2018

Serbs face Swiss trial

Serbia will attempt to wrap up qualification to the knockout rounds on Friday as they take on a Switzerland team brimming with confidence after grabbing a draw with Brazil.

The Serbs control their own destiny in Group E after an opening 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Sunday, which came courtesy of a stunning Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick.

Victory over Switzerland in Kaliningrad on     

Friday would guarantee Serbia a place in the last 16, regardless of whether they win or lose their final game.

Roma star Kolarov acknowledged that Serbia are in a strong position to qualify but the 32-year-old cautioned that the Serbs would take nothing for granted against the Swiss.

"It's very important that we have these three points in the bag, but it's not over, Switzerland will be the hardest match," he said. "I don't want to do the maths for now, if we draw it would not work, we want to win of course."

Serbia boast a host of current and former Premier League talent, but their rising star is Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, an attacking midfielder who has drawn comparisons to Serbian great Dejan Stankovic.

Switzerland battled hard for a point against a Brazil side led by Neymar in their opener.

"It was very good teamwork on the right side. It was almost a perfect game. It's important to have this teamwork," said Arsenal-bound captain Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Serbia have based themselves in Kaliningrad throughout their stay in the tournament and tens of thousands of their countrymen are expected to travel for the game.


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