Serbia Euro 2024 squad: Who is Dragan Stojkovic bringing to the European Championship?

Torino’s Vanja Milinkovic-Savic recorded two clean sheets in the Euro 2024 qualifiers – where he started all games, making him the undisputed first choice in goal.

Both Predrag Rajkovic and Dorde Petrovic were offered starts in the March preparatory friendlies, while Aleksander Jovanovic has also made it to the preliminary squad.

Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic has the potential to stand up to the likes of Harry Kane in the group games.

Most of the defenders in the roster have been given minutes in the two friendlies played so far, with Strahinja Pavlovic, Milos Veljkovic, Strahinja Erakovic and Srdan Babic all suited to a three-man backline.

AC Milan’s Jan-Carlo Simic and Filip Mladenovic of Panathinaikos are otherwise among the more experienced of the lot.

Although aged 35, captain Dusan Tadic will remain Serbia’s primary playmaker. The Fenerbahce man should be utilised on the set-pieces and has provided the most assists (4) in the team during the qualifiers.

Experience may play a key role in midfield, and players like Filip Koctic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Nemanja Radonjic, Mijat Gacinovic and Andrija Zivkovic provide just that.

If Serbia should see success at Euros 2024, Aleksandar Mitrovic will have to carry the burden of scoring goals once again. The Al-Hilal forward is the nation’s record goalscorer and bulged the net five times during the qualifiers.

AC Milan’s Luka Jovic may be the next best bet in attack, ahead of a relatively inexperienced Samed Bazdar.

However, Dusan Vlahovic is back after missing the the March international break due to injury, while Red Bull Salzburg forward Petar Ratkov has also made a return.

Stojkovic has tried out a few systems, but 3-4-2-1 remains his preferred formation.

The most likely trio of defenders would be Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic and Srdan Babic.

PAOK winger Andrija Zivkovic and Juventus left wing-back Filip Kostic can assume the wide roles, with Sasa Lukic of Fulham and Srdan Mijailovic of Red Star Belgrade playing through the middle.

Al-Hilal’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic can join captain Dusan Tadic, just behind Aleksander Mitrovic in attack.

Serbia (3-4-2-1): V. Milonkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, Pavlovic, Babic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Mijailovic, Kostic; S. Mikinkovic-Savic, Tadic; Mitrovic