Expectations were high for Serbia at the FIFA World Cup after they produced a stellar qualifying campaign that saw them finish above Portugal. The Eagles have failed to live up to their dark horse billing thus far though, losing to Brazil and being held by Cameroon in a thrilling draw, meaning they’re now in ‘must-win’ territory in this Group G finale. Manager Dragan Stojković was furious that his side let a two-goal lead slip in that 3-3 blockbuster with Cameroon, branding his side’s defending ‘incomprehensible’ and claiming the same should be ‘forbidden at this level’.
Those errors will need to be corrected here if Serbia are to reach the knockout stages for the first time, and coincidentally a 2-1 defeat to Switzerland cost them that goal at Russia in 2018. That loss was the start of an alarming trend that has seen the Eagles concede at least twice in each of their last four World Cup games while failing to secure victory in any (D1, L3).
Merely avoiding defeat is likely to be enough to secure Switzerland’s progression to the last 16, with qualification rivals Cameroon facing five-time Champions Brazil in the group’s other fixture. Switzerland, under the guidance of coach Murat Yakin since 2021, are looking to make it three straight appearances in the knockout stages at the World Cup for the first time in their history, and Yakin’s team are well placed to do so.
Switzerland showed they’re a tough nut to crack in holding Brazil for over 80 minutes before Casemiro’s strike eventually consigned them to defeat. A second consecutive loss would see their tournament come to an end, but they’ve not been beaten in consecutive World Cup games since 1994, so the omens look good for the Red Crosses.
Players to watch: Talismanic forward Aleksandar Mitrović netted in Serbia’s 3-3 draw with Cameroon, and he was also on target in his country’s only previous H2H with Switzerland. Also on the scoresheet that day was Xherdan Shaqiri, who could become his country’s highest appearance maker in World Cups with his 11th outing at the finals here.
Hot stat: Serbia have lost just one of their last 16 competitive meetings with European opposition (W11, D4).
World Cup trivia: The 1954 World Cup hosted in Switzerland was the first to be transmitted live on television.
