Serbia will face Saudi Arabia at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for an international friendly match. Both teams are eager to redeem themselves following heavy defeats in their previous encounters. This match marks Serbia’s first game against Saudi Arabia.
Match Preview
Serbia, having qualified for four of the last five World Cup tournaments, will miss the next edition after struggling in their qualifying campaign. They ended up third in Group K, securing only 13 points from eight matches. This left them significantly behind group leaders England and narrowly ahead of Albania, who advanced to the playoffs.
Veljko Paunovic, who took over as coach late in the qualifying rounds, is looking to turn things around. His record includes a notable 2-1 victory over Latvia but a loss to England. More recently, Serbia faced European champions Spain, suffering a setback with a 3-0 loss at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Saudi Arabia’s World Cup Journey
Conversely, Saudi Arabia has successfully secured a spot in the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America. They finished their qualifying journey with 13 points but had to navigate a challenging third stage, ultimately surpassing Iraq to earn their place in the tournament.
In their group, they will face formidable opponents like Uruguay and Spain. Although they aim to progress past the group stage for the first time since 1994, they must recover from a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Egypt in their latest match.
Team News
For Serbia, Coach Paunovic may opt for squad rotation, considering several players like Predrag Rajkovic, Strahinja Erakovic, and Kosta Nedeljkovic for starting positions. Notable players such as Sasa Lukic and Luka Jovic may also see action in this fixture.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia will miss Moteb Al-Harbi due to injury. Coach Hervé Renard has brought in goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais following their defeat against Egypt, with potential new inclusions like Rayan Hamed and Abdullah Al-Hamdan for this match.
Predicted Lineups
Serbia’s Potential Starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Rajkovic
- Defenders: Nedeljkovic, Milenkovic, Erakovic, Bukinac
- Midfielders: Gudelj, Lukic
- Forwards: Birmancevic, Samardzic, Kostic, Jovic
Saudi Arabia’s Potential Starting XI
- Goalkeeper: Al-Aqidi
- Defenders: Abdulhamid, Hamed, Al-Amri, Al-Mufarrij
- Midfielders: Kanno, Masoud
- Forwards: Al-Faraj, Al-Hamdan, Al-Sahafi, Al-Buraikan
Prediction for the Match
Given the recent performances, Serbia is favored to win with a predicted score of 2-1. Despite their recent defeat to Spain, the Serbian side is expected to bounce back against Saudi Arabia.
