Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Lithuania and Serbia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
After a midweek setback left Serbia second in Group G of Euro 2024 qualifying, they visit winless Lithuania on Sunday, aiming to provide an immediate response.
Before travelling to Kaunas, the Eagles suffered defeat to Hungary in their first fixture of the international period, while their hosts fought back to steal a point against Montenegro.
Match preview
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After coming through their first three Euro 2024 qualifiers unbeaten, Serbia went head-to-head with their chief rivals for Group C supremacy, Hungary, on Thursday night. However, events did not unfold as they had planned at the Marakana.
The teams met in Belgrade sitting on seven points apiece after June’s fixtures – in which Serbia were held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria – and despite taking the lead, Dragan Stojkovic‘s side could not prevent the Hungarians heading home with all three points.
As a result, neighbours Montenegro – one of two teams the Eagles saw off in their opening pair of fixtures, the other being this weekend’s opponents – have pulled to within two points in the table.
There are just four rounds remaining to battle it out for a top-two finish, which would guarantee a place in Germany next summer, so Serbia cannot afford to let things slip any further.
Having failed to win a game at Qatar 2022, Stojkovic simply must steer his team to the European Championship finals or face the inevitable consequences – losing in Lithuania, then, is unthinkable.
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Still searching for their first win of the qualification process, Lithuania have lost two and drawn two in Group G so far.
Any distant dreams of upsetting the odds and making a push for the top two have long since ended, and even a spirited 2-2 draw with Montenegro in midweek leaves them languishing second-bottom of the standings, only ahead of Bulgaria on goals scored.
After they let a lead slip to trail heading into stoppage time on Thursday evening, Fedor Cernych popped up with a late leveller to delight the home fans in Kaunas, but their national team are still seeking an end to a long winless run.
Fourteen games have now passed since Lithuania’s last victory, which came against San Marino well over a year ago, and campaigns in the UEFA Nations League and Baltic Cup have both come and gone without a single success.
Former international striker Edgaras Jankauskas, who now leads the Rinktine, will therefore be keen to get off the mark in that regard and restore some pride, but Serbia’s visit presents a particularly tricky task.
Lithuania Euro Champ Qualifying form:
Lithuania form (all competitions):
Serbia Euro Champ Qualifying form:
Serbia form (all competitions):
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Team News
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Although neither was able to get on the scoresheet against Hungary last time out, Serbia’s strikeforce could again be comprised of Dusan Vlahovic and all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic on Sunday.
The latter averages a goal every two games in European Championship qualifying throughout his career, but has yet to score on the road to Germany – Vlahovic has three goals to his name already.
Fulham’s Sasa Lucic and Aleksa Terzic of Red Bull Salzburg were among those cut from the Eagles’ preliminary squad, but an abundance of talent remains available to coach Dragan Stojkovic, who generally prefers a 3-4-1-2 formation.
While Serbia captain Dusan Tadic will now reach his century of international caps, Lithuania’s most experienced player, 88-cap Arvydas Novikovas, should start on the wing this weekend.
Following his point-saving intervention from off the bench on Thursday, Fedor Cernych could be promoted to the hosts’ starting lineup, but few other changes are expected.
Lithuania possible starting lineup:
Gertmonas; Lasickas, Lekiatas, Girdvainis, Benetas; Verbickas, Gineitis; Novikovas, Cernych, Jankauskas; Paulauskas
Serbia possible starting lineup:
V. Milinkovic-Savic; Veljkovic, Gudelj, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Ilic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Kostic; Tadic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic
We say: Lithuania 0-2 Serbia
Serbia should expect to do the double over lowly Lithuania, who simply cannot buy a win and could be bound for bottom place in Group G. The gulf in class between the teams will be apparent, but a dogged rearguard action by the home side may keep the scoreline respectable.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
