The game is a continuation of their preparation towards this year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Ahead of Tuesday’s clash completesportsnigeria. com’s JAMES AGBEREBI list SEVEN interesting facts about Serbia, who lost 2-1 to Morocco in a friendly in Turin, Italy also on Tuesday…
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team is known all over the world as the Super Eagles.
The Serbian senior men’s national team is also called the Eagles.
In the FIFA rankings released on March 15th, 2018, Serbia maintained number 34 in the world.
Following the latest rankings, Serbia are 18 places above the Super Eagles who occupy number 52.
– SERBIA TOPPED THEIR EUROPEAN 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP
Serbia qualified automatically for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after topping Group D in the European qualifiers.
They finished top on 21 points, just two points ahead of second-placed Republic Ireland who had to drop to the play-offs.
Other countries in Serbia’s qualifying group were Wales, Georgia, Moldova and Austria.
Serbia have been drawn against five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in Group E of this year’s tournament.
Apart from Brazil, they will also take on Switzerland and Costa Rica in the group.
Among notable players in the current Serbian squad are Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic, former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov who once featured for Manchester City, all top players and veterans of big clubs in big leagues.
Others are Dusan Tadic of Southampton and Matija Nastasic who was a former player for Manchester City.
– FORMER MANCHESTER CITY DEFENDER ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV IS CAPTAIN OF SERBIA
Aleksandar Kolarov, who is a former Manchester City defender, currently captains the Serbian senior men’s national team.
He is assisted by Manchester United and former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic.
Formerly a part of Yugoslavia, Serbia became independent in 2006 and qualified for their first World Cup in South Africa 2010.
The team was drawn in the same group with Germany, Australia and Ghana.
After one win (surprisingly a 1-0 win against Germany) and two defeats (1-0 and 2-1 defeats to Ghana and Australia respectively), Serbia crashed out in the first round.
COMMENTS
funny 2 know that but national teams, nigeria and serbia bears EAGLES as nicknames,but one side must show that it is SUPER.
I expect the one that is SUPER to trounce the other Eagle.
Since Serbia has no African opponent at the group stage, I wonder why they accepted to play a friendly match with Nigeria. We need them but I doubt if they need us. Good for us, all the same.