Wales play host to Serbia on Saturday in a match that could change the leadership in World Cup qualifying Group D. The two nations have also met in the previous World Cup qualifying campaign, one that didn't go too well for Gareth Bale and his team-mates. Serbia thrashed Wales 6-1 at home back in 2012 and then, in 2013, they also won 3-0 away. However, neither of the two teams managed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Serbia finished the group in 3rd place while Wales ended up 5th.
After their impressive performances at this summer's European Championship, Wales started the World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Moldova. Then they secured a 2-2 draw in Austria, decent result, but last time out they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Georgia. Gareth Bale has scored three times in those three matches and he will feature again on Saturday. Ben Davies and James Collins have been withdrawn from the squad because of injuries.
Serbia are also unbeaten in the current World Cup qualifying campaign and they are top of the group table after two wins and one draw in the first three matches. They started with a 2-2 home draw against Ireland and then won the last two matches, 3-0 in Moldova and 3-2 at home against Austria. Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic was unable to play in any of those three matches but he is now fit and ready to take his place in the starting eleven.
Probable line-ups:
Wales: Hennessey - Chester, Williams, Dummett - Gunter, Allen, Ramsey, Ledley, Taylor - Vokes, Bale
Serbia: Stojkovic - Nastasic, Ivanovic, S. Mitrovic - Rukavina, Matic, Milivojevic, Kolarov - Tadic, A. Mitrovic, Kostic
My prediction: 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Wales win - 2.40 Draw - 3.30 Serbia win - 3.25
mannixx
7 years ago
I expected more from Serbia, but Wales agression and hard tackles didnt let them play, especially hard tackles on Dusan Tadic whos nose got broken. At the end Serbia got lucky to get a draw with Mitrovic (Newcastlle) goal and before Bale hit a post. I still think Ireland are the favorites to win this group.
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sharpe
7 years ago
This is an very interesting game in one very intriguing group I think, all of the other contenders in this group were on the EURO championship with an exception of the Serbian team which would be very motivated to prove that was a miscue. Don't know what will happen in that one but these are two teams that I want to see...
This is an very interesting game in one very intriguing group I think, all of the other contenders in this group were on the EURO championship with an exception of the Serbian team which would be very motivated to prove that was a miscue. Don't know what will happen in that one but these are two teams that I want to see at the World Championship and I'm positive they''ll be there in the end.
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