Serbia  – Participating teams in the Euro Football 2024 Tournament

Serbia are one of the nations involved in the eagerly anticipated 2024 European Championship. The Serbians are making just their sixth Euro Cup appearance and their first since 2000. Can Dragan Stojkovic’s side go far in Germany?

In this extensive Serbian national team 2024 European Championship preview, we look back on how they reached the finals, check out their current squad, and analyse their expected performances in the tournament. 

The Serbian Football Team in the Euro Football Tournament

Serbia are competing in their sixth European Championship this summer. Their first was back in 1960, and their final appearance in a Euro Cup was in Belgium and Netherlands in 2000. 

Serbia were part of Yugoslavia for many years. The Yugoslavians were runners-up in the 1960 tournament in France and finished second again eight years later in Italy. 

They qualified in 1992 but were suspended and were not allowed to compete in the 1996 version in England. However, as FR Yugoslavia / Serbia and Montenegro, they reached the quarter-finals in Belgium and Holland. Since 2006, they have been known as just Serbia. 

The 2000 tournament was their last appearance in the Euro finals. They progressed out of Group C after one win, a draw, and a defeat. They drew with the Slovenians in game one before securing a 1-0 win against Norway. Despite a 4-3 loss to Spain on the final day of the group, they made it to the knockouts. 

Unfortunately, their tournament came to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals, as they were hammered 6-1 by the Dutch in Rotterdam. 

After 24 years of waiting, Serbia are back in Europe’s elite international football competition. They have participated in four World Cups during that time, though they were eliminated in the group stage in all four.

Serbia booked their place in the 2024 European Championship after finishing runners-up to Hungary in Group G. Qualification was confirmed on the final day of the qualifying campaign. 

The Serbians were drafted into Pot 4 for the 2024 Euro Cup draw alongside Italy, Switzerland, and the three play-off winners. They were drawn into a tough group with England, Denmark, and Slovenia. 

With the English and Danes expected to battle for the top spot and finish in the first two places, the fight for third and a potential position in the next round could be fascinating. 

Serbia kick off their tournament with a game against Gareth Southgate’s England on June 16th. As you would expect, the Three Lions are the massive favourites at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. The English have been tipped by many to go all the way on German turf. 

Serbia then head to the stunning Allianz Arena in Munich for their second game. Dragan Stojkovic’s troops will go head-to-head with Slovenia, which could be a huge fixture in the race for a top-three spot. 

Serbia’s third and final Group C matchup will see them go up against Denmark at Bayern Munich’s iconic stadium on June 25th. Like England, the Danes are expected to have a strong tournament this summer. 

Finishing above England or Denmark will be a tall order, but the Serbians will fancy their chances of getting the better of the Slovenians. The top two from every group will automatically qualify for the knockout phase, while third place will be enough for four nations. 

Getting out of Group C will not be an easy task, but Stojkovic’s boys could cause a couple of upsets along the way. Three points in the group could be enough to progress to the Round of 16. 

Serbia’s Road to the European Championship 2024

Serbia have had several strong World Cup qualifying campaigns in recent times, but they have struggled in the Euro qualifiers. However, they are in the Euros for the first time in 24 years after finishing as the runners-up to Hungary in Group G. 

Serbia secured 14 points from a possible 24. The Hungarians won the group with ease, winning five and drawing three to finish four points above the Serbians. 

Serbia won half of their qualifying matches, drawing two and losing two of the other four. Along the way, they scored 15 goals and let in nine. They ended up finishing three points above their neighbours, Montenegro, in the race for second. 

In the first game of 2024 European Championship qualifying, Serbia picked up a 2-0 win against Lithuania in Belgrade. Dusan Tadic opened the scoring for the home side, and Dusan Vlahovic’s 53rd-minute goal made sure of the points on opening day.

Serbia followed that up with a massive victory against Montenegro at the City Stadium in Podgorica. Vlahovic was in inspired form, as the Juventus hitman grabbed two late goals to help his side to a 2-0 win on the road. 

Serbia kept up their unbeaten run in the group with a last-gasp equaliser in Razgrad on matchday three. They were a goal down to Bulgaria deep into second-half injury time, but Darko Lazovic rescued a point with a 96th-minute leveller. 

The Serbians then hit a rocky patch of form, losing two of the next three. In game four, Stojkovic’s men suffered a disappointing 2-1 home loss to the Bulgarians. They took the lead but were behind before half time and failed to find an equaliser. 

They responded with a comfortable 3-1 victory against the Lithuanians in Kaunas. Aleksandar Mitrovic, who now plays for Al Hilal, helped himself to a hat-trick at the Darius and Girenas Stadium. 

Serbia were brought back down to earth with a bump with another defeat in match six. The Eagles lost 2-1 to Bulgaria in front of 58,000 fans at the sensational Puskas Arena in Budapest. 

They had work to do in their last two qualifiers, and a much-needed 3-1 victory over Montenegro in October put one foot on the plane to Germany. Mitrovic bagged a brace, and former Southampton man Tadic was on the scoresheet at the Stadion Rajko Mitic.

On the final day of Group G, Serbia made sure of a place in the finals. Hungary’s 3-1 win against Montenegro, coupled with Serbia’s 2-2 draw with Bulgaria, proved to be enough for qualification.  

They ended up finishing three points ahead of Montenegro and four points behind Hungary. In-form Mitrovic was the group’s top scorer with five goals, Juve’s Vlahovic netted three, and Tadic helped himself to two goals. Overall, it was a successful qualifying campaign for the Serbs. 

Serbia’s Star Players in the Team

Serbia have many star players in the team. Stojkovic has a whole host of talented players at his disposal, and the Serbian national team could be a dark horse in this summer’s European Championship.

In attack, they have two players with a real eye for goal. Aleksandar Mitrovic scored goals for fun for Fulham in England’s second tier, and the former Newcastle United man netted 14 goals for the Cottagers in the 2022-23 Premier League season. 

Mitrovic was Serbia’s top scorer in qualifying, netting five times. He is also Serbia’s all-time leading goal scorer. Since leaving England, the forward has banged in the goals for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. As he approaches 30, Mitrovic is in the form of his life for club and country. If the big striker has a strong tournament, Serbia could go far. 

Young Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic will also be a big player for the Serbians this summer. The striker has been in good form for the Old Lady this term, and his partnership with Mitrovic in the 2024 Euro Cup could be one to keep an eye on. 

Chelsea goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic has competition in goal, while Fulham’s Sasa Lukic could be an important player for the team in the middle of the park. Dusan Tadic, Ivan Ilic, and Nemanja Radonjic will also be big players for Stojkovic this summer. 

On paper, Serbia have a strong squad. They have two goal scorers in attack, several creative midfield players, and a couple of rocks at the back. They could give nations problems and surprise a few in this summer’s tournament. 

Serbia’s Chances of Winning the 2024 European Championship

Even though this will be Serbia’s first Euro Cup appearance in over two decades, the Serbian national team will back themselves to go far in the tournament. If they can sneak out of a tough-looking group, Stojkovic’s men have the potential to go far in Germany. 

England and Denmark are the favourites to progress from the group, while Slovenia have their own strengths. Nevertheless, Serbia will be pushing for a top-three finish and a potential place in the knockout phase of the 2024 European Championship. 

As Yugoslavia, the nation finished as the European Championship runner-up on two occasions. They have also been involved in three of the last four World Cups since becoming Serbia. 

Stojkovic has a solid set of players to call upon this summer, and getting out of Group C is a strong possibility. Winning the competition is a step too far, but the Serbian national team could reach the Round of 16 in Germany.