World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage

Jun 10, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Gradski stadion Dubocica

Serbia vs Andorra

Match preview

Serbia's participation in the current World Cup cycle was delayed until this month, as they had to fight to retain their top-tier UEFA Nations League status in March.

After finishing third in their League A section, Dragan Stojković’s team played Austria in a two-legged relegation/promotion play-off, with second-leg goals from Nemanja Maksimović and Dušan Vlahović securing a 3–1 aggregate victory.

This result also extended Serbia's unbeaten run to four matches as they continue to rebuild following their disappointing performance at Euro 2024.

The Eagles most recently travelled to Tirana, where their quest to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup began on Saturday against old rivals Albania.

There was a huge police presence, aiming to avoid the controversial abandonment of the equivalent fixture 11 years ago, as the two teams played out a goalless draw.

Both nations are competing with group favourites England — and, to a much lesser extent, Latvia and Andorra — to finish in the top two, as second place would secure a place in the playoffs.

Serbia will now host the latter in Leskovac, knowing that anything other than a win in their first ever meeting could be costly.

Though Andorra occupy a familiar position at the bottom of Group K after three matches, they will go into their fourth qualifying contest on the back of a strong performance against England at the weekend.

The world’s 173rd-ranked nation had previously lost 1–0 to Latvia and 3–0 to Albania, but they put up quite a fight against the toothless Three Lions, who were European Championship finalists less than 12 months ago.

Long-serving coach Koldo Álvarez saw his side frustrate a star-studded English attack for long periods of the match, though they still fell to a 1–0 defeat at their temporary home in Barcelona.

A tiny microstate with limited playing resources, Andorra finished bottom of their Nations League group and have won only one of their last 26 matches, failing to score in any of the last five.

They will therefore head to Serbia with little expectation of picking up a point, and their best chance to get off the mark will surely come in autumn games against Estonia and Latvia.

Recent Performance

Serbia World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:D

Andorra World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:LLL

Team News

Despite his team failing to score on Saturday, Serbia boss Dragan Stojković is set to stick with a 3-4-1-2 formation against Andorra, with three players competing for a place up front.

Luka Jovic was benched at the weekend while Dusan Vlahovic and all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrović played together, but that could change at the Dubocica Stadium. Regardless of the hosts' starting XI, Mitrović will certainly feature at some point, earning his 100^(th) cap.

Captain Predrag Rajkovic is sidelined with a thigh injury, and Torino's Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has been exiled due to disagreements with Stojkovic, so Chelsea's Djordje Petrovic is likely to be in goal.

Meanwhile, Andorra will rely on Villarreal B's Iker Álvarez in goal, starting behind a likely five-man defence.

That back line could feature 35-year-old captain Marc Vales, who is set to join Mitrović in becoming an international centurion.

Five-goal striker Albert Rosas Ubach, his country’s joint second-top scorer, missed out on this month's squad, so Santa Coloma striker Ricard Fernández is favourite to play as a lone striker.

Possible starting lineup

Serbia possible starting lineup:

Petrovic; Erakovic, Milenkovic, Pavlovic; Nedeljkovic, Gudelj, Maksimovic, Terzic; Samardzic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic

Andorra possible starting lineup:

Alvarez; Borra, Llovera, Vales, C. Garcia, San Nicolas; Rodrigo, Guillen, Babot, Cervos; Fernandez