On Sunday, Serbia will face Latvia in a World Cup Qualifying match, concluding their campaigns in Group K. The game will take place at Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac. Serbia has already secured third position, while Latvia has been eliminated from World Cup contention.
Match Preview: Serbia vs Latvia
Serbia enters the match with a recent defeat to England, losing 2-0. This match was particularly challenging due to the absence of their top scorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is sidelined with an injury. The loss solidified Serbia’s inability to finish in the top two of their group, eliminating their chances for a playoff spot.
The new head coach, Veljko Paunovic, is aiming to avoid a third consecutive home defeat. Serbia has experienced two recent losses at home, including a 5-0 defeat to England and a 1-0 loss to Albania. Despite this, Serbia can still find hope in the UEFA Nations League format, which could provide an alternative path to advancement depending on results from other groups.
Latvia’s Struggles
Latvia’s situation is markedly different. They have managed to gather only five points from their seven Group K matches, placing them far behind their rivals. Currently, they sit nine points below second-placed Albania and sixteen points behind group leaders England. This match represents an opportunity for Latvia to showcase their potential and play for pride.
Latvia’s last outing ended in a goalless draw against North Macedonia, extending their winless streak to eight matches across all competitions. In their previous qualifier, Latvia lost 1-0 to Serbia in Riga, marking a challenging qualifying campaign for the nation.
Team News
For Serbia, midfielder Ivan Ilic will not feature due to injury, which poses a tactical challenge for Paunovic. It is expected that Lazar Samardzic will take Ilic’s place in the lineup. Without Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic is anticipated to lead the attack, while the defense remains largely intact.
On Latvia’s side, the team faces disciplinary issues with two players, Andrejs Ciganiks and captain Antonijs Cernomordijs, both suspended for this match. As a result, Maksims Tonisevs is likely to fill in for Ciganiks, while Vitalijs Jagodinskis is expected to step into the captain’s role.
Possible Lineups
| Serbia | Latvia |
|---|---|
| Rajkovic | Zviedris |
| Mimovic | Savalnieks |
| Milenkovic | Balodis |
| Pavlovic | Jagodinskis |
| Terzic | Jurkovskis |
| Gudelj | Tonisevs |
| Lukic | Ikaunieks |
| Zivkovic | Zelenkovs |
| Samardzic | Vapne |
| Kostic | Daskevics |
| Vlahovic | Gutkovskis |
Predictions
While Serbia aims to regain form and avoid a third home loss, Latvia will look to build momentum, however little may be at stake for them. The forecast leans towards a 2-0 victory for Serbia, despite the absence of Mitrovic. The match presents an important chance for both teams to make a statement as qualifiers come to an end.
