Nation: Serbia
FIFA ranking: 21st
World Cup achievements: Group stage (2010, 2018)

Sky Sports' Joe Shread:

This year's World Cup undoubtedly represents Serbia's best chance of success at the tournament since they became an independent nation in 2006.

As part of Yugoslavia, they finished fourth in 1930 and 1962, but since the break up of that nation, Serbia have only succeeded in reaching the group stage in 2018 and 2010 - and also in 2006 as Serbia & Montenegro.

Serbia did stun Germany in the 2010 World Cup group stage but blew their qualification chances by losing to Australia, while their 2018 campaign was undone by defeats to Switzerland and Brazil, despite starting brightly with a win over Costa Rica.

Remarkably, Serbia have once again been drawn against Switzerland and Brazil in Group G for this year's tournament, while Cameroon have taken the place of Costa Rica.

The presence in their group of the two sides that beat them four years ago represents a perfect opportunity for Serbia to show how far they have progressed in that time.

The team's results in recent seasons would suggest they have come a long way. After failing to qualify for Euro 2020, Serbia went unbeaten on their way to topping their World Cup qualifying group, beating Portugal into second place after taking a point from them in Belgrade and then winning in Lisbon.

Serbia then backed up that impressive campaign by earning promotion to the top flight of the Nations League, beating Norway and Sweden away on their way to winning their group.

Dragan Stojkovic's side are on a roll so don't be surprised to see them tipped as dark horses in Qatar this winter.

Group G

Fixtures & results

Most recent squad

Route to final

Insight

After taking over as manager in March 2021, Dragan Stojkovic has led Serbia to just three defeats in 20 matches - and two of those were in friendlies.

The 57-year-old may have seemed a curious appointment given his interesting career path. After ending his playing days, during which he represented clubs including Marseille and Red Star Belgrade, Stojkovic became president of the Serbian FA and then Red Star.

The former midfielder then made the move into coaching with Japanese club Nagoya Grampus but had never coached outside of Asia before taking charge of the national team, with Chinese side Guangzhou R&F his only other previous employer.

But the choice of Stojkovic as coach has so far been inspired. With the exception of a 1-1 draw against Jamaica last year, the manager has stuck with a three-man defence, while he also regularly lines his side up with two strikers.

Those are tactics that make sense given the forwards at Stojkovic's disposal. Aleksandar Mitrovic has a sensational 50 goals in 75 caps and has made a strong start to the Premier League season with Fulham, while Dusan Vlahovic has scored more than 20 goals in the past two Serie A campaigns.

The front two are ably served by captain Dusan Tadic, who has 33 assists in 90 games for Serbia from his position at No 10, while Juventus' Filip Kostic provides thrust from left wing-back.

The three-at-the-back system makes Serbia tough to break down, with just 19 goals conceded in Stojkovic's 20 games in charge, but it hasn't blunted their attack, with an average of two goals a game scored under the manager.

Player to Watch

Name: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Position: Midfielder
Club: Lazio
Age: 27

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Dusan Tadic have the potential to wreak havoc on opposition defences in Qatar, but it's a player who lines up a little further back that may prove to be the pick of the bunch.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is perennially linked with a move to the Premier League but has so far opted to remain at Lazio, where he won the Italian Cup in 2019.

Milinkovic-Savic is a key cog in the centre of the field for Maurizio Sarri's side, where he has played for more than seven years. Since the start of the 2017/18 season, the 27-year-old ranks fourth among all midfielders in Serie A for both goals and assists, while he is fifth for passes completed.

It's not just in possession where Milinkovic-Savic excels. During the same time period, he also ranks in the top 10 for tackles and interceptions, while no other midfielder comes close to the aerial duels he has won.

Milinkovic-Savic provides quality both in and out of possession as well as a guaranteed goal threat both with his feet and his head. If Serbia are to fulfil their potential at the World Cup, don't be surprised if he is at the heart of it.

Where will Serbia stay?

Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha

Qatar stadiums

Qualification in pictures