Soccer / group a

Portugal and Serbia will decide who will go directly on World Cup and who will go in playoff on Sunday, November 14th 20:45 O'clock - Central European Time. It's going to be very important game or "moment of truth" like Serbian national squad coach Dragan Stojkovic Pixi said. Group A table looks like this at the moment: Portugal need to play away against Ireland few days before clash with Serbia. They hardly won Ireland at home, were losing 0:1 until injury time and then suddenly make turn over and won 2:1. I expect hard game in Ireland too. However Portugal is much better squad and will probably win there. That victory can bring them to first place in group with 19 points which will make situation that draw is enough for them to go directly to World Cup. Coach and players of Serbia are very motivated for this game and repeating they are not scared and that they are not interested in play off, but in first place in group. Coach Dragan Stojkovic Pixi even said he doesn't want just to go on World Cup and will not consider that like big success. He wants also to do something there. Pixi siad that he believes in lads and that they are capable of winning Portugal away. Players like striker Dušan Vlahovic and goalkeeper Rajković repeated his words. Serbia doesn't have good record against Portgual. At the metter of fact we never won Portugal while we played like Serbia. We managed to get some draws only. It's strange but we get draw more often in Portugal than when playing in Serbia. Last encounter brought controversial game in which Portugal dominated first half and lead 0:2, we were better in second and equalized on 2:2, then Ronaldo scored goal in injury time, but referee didn't see ball went over line and didn't give him goal and he drop captain armband in helpless anger... He was very upset about that. Some smart guys - players from here even trolled him over social media after incident. I have no doubt UEFA remembers that and every suspicious situation is going to go on Portugal way now. Serbia played some good football against Ireland, deserved to win, but played only draw. It was unfortunate draw. However it's hard to remain optimistic when I see list of players in both national squads. Names like Ronaldo, Bruno, Bernardo Silva, Jota, Joao Felix, Cancelo, Dias, Carvalho, Ruben Neves frighten me. We have some very good players like Dušan Vlahović, Aleksandar Mitrović,Dušan Tadić, Luka Jović, but to be honest I don't believe our defense can hold Portugal aces. Fact that we need victory will force us to open at some point and they will get us if on nothing else on counter attack. However if we manage to score goal first somehow and then defend and try counter attacks we might hold if they have bad day, but it's highly unlikely. Predicted result: Portugal - Serbia 3:1 Here are both squads and you can evaluate them yourself: Portugal: Keepers: Anthony Lopes (Olympique Lyon), Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Rui Patrício (AS Roma). Defenders: João Cancelo, Rúben Dias (Manchester City), Nélson Semedo (Wolves), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (PSG), José Fonte (Lille OSC), Pepe (FC Porto). Midfielders: Danilo Pereira (PSG), João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (Sporting CP), William Carvalho (Real Betis), João Moutinho, Rúben Neves (Wolves), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), João Mário (SL Benfica), Renato Sanches (Lille OSC). Forwards: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Rafa Silva (SL Benfica), João Félix (Atlético Madrid), André Silva (RB Leipzig), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Diogo Jota (Liverpool FC), Rafael Leão (AC Milan). Serbia Goalkeepers: Marko Dmitrović (Sevilja), Predrag Rajković (Rems), Mile Svilar (Benfika), Vanja Milinković-Savić (Torino). Defenders: Strahinja Pavlović (Monako), Stefan Mitrović (Hetafe), Nikola Milenković (Fiorentina), Uroš Spajić (Krasnodar), Miloš Veljković (Verder), Matija Nastasić (Fiorentina), Filip Mladenović (Legija). Midfielders: Mihailo Ristić (Monpelje), Nemanja Gudelj (Sevilja), Nemanja Maksimović (Hetafe), Darko Lazović (Verona), Nemanja Radonjić (Olimpik Marsej), Saša Lukić (Torino), Marko Grujić (Porto), Uroš Račić (Valensija), Andrija Živković (PAOK), Filip Kostić (Ajntraht), Sergej Milinković-Savić (Lacio), Dušan Tadić (Ajaks), Filip Đuričić (Sasuolo). Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrović (Fulam), Dušan Vlahović (Fiorentina), Luka Jović (Real Madrid). What do you think about this game ? Do we have any chance here ? Can it be madness in Portugal like this ? No one here expect us to win in Portugal and those situations are where we are the most dangerous... Noone believed we can beat Norway away, but we deserved to give them 3-4 goals during game and dominated if you know what I mean. All expected we will easily beat Scotland at home after, but we failed... I am sure in one thing. I have no doubt Dragan Stojković will take maximum from our players on Sunday.