voldemort

Crunch-Time For Serbs
After results from the previous round of qualifying fixtures ensured that Serbia were still in the hunt for qualification, absolutely no slip-ups against Kazakhstan at home on Saturday can even be contemplated.
Facing such a lowly side as Kazakhstan should mean a routine win for Serbia, but as everyone in football is keen to stress: No games are easy at international level!
The hosts will also have to cope without their captain and main inspiration, Dejan Stankovic who misses out through injury.
However, a player whose absence may prove more pivotal is injured goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic. The first-choice keeper has been a main-stay throughout the qualifying rounds and his deputies have yet to settle the fears of the fans.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s Spanish manager, Javier Clemente attempted to play down the goalkeeping situation, saying: "It is always unsettling when you have a problem with your No1 but I have full confidence in Vlada Avramov, who is with us all the time."
Clemente will be wary of the under-estimated threat of the visiting side, as Kazakhstan dished out a surprise 2-1 defeat to Serbia in the reverse fixture earlier in the year. Clearly the wily Clemente will fire his players up by reminding them of that humbling, perhaps going as far in the dressing room as to demand revenge for a defeat that hampered their qualification quest.
"We were not at our best in Almaty and we lost, which was disappointing,” Said Clemente.
Of course, with the way the Group is set up with any two from four destined to qualify, even if Serbia beat the Kazaks their qualifying chances may still be rendered impossible if the results of Finland, Portugal and Poland don’t go Serbia’s way.
“But now is the time to show we are much better than that. Right now, we cannot do any more than get the two victories, so I don't want to see anxiety in my team”, demanded Clemente.
“I'm a positive person, we must do our job and then see what happens."
Serbia are third in Group A, three points behind Portugal and four adrift of Wednesday's opponents Poland.
For Kazakhstan it is still a case of baby steps in progression on the international stage. At home, along with Azerbaijan and Armenia, they have proved delightfully problematic for the opposition, but still look shaky on their travels.
Nonetheless games like these remain key to their development, and being such a competitive nation they shall thus look to stifle Serbia and attempt to nick a late goal.

FORM GUIDE:
Serbia
17/10 (Away) Azerbaijan (ECQ) Won 1-6
13/10 (Away) Armenia (ECQ) Drew 0-0
12/09 (Away) Portugal (ECQ) Drew 1-1
08/09 (Home) Finland (ECQ) Drew 0-0
22/08 (Away) Belgium (ECQ) Lost 3-2

Kazakhstan
17/10 (Home) Portugal (ECQ) Lost 1-2
13/10 (Away) Poland (ECQ) Lost 3-1
12/09 (Home) Belgium (ECQ) Drew 2-2
08/09 (Away) Finland (ECQ) Lost 2-1
22/08 (Home) Azerbaijan (ECQ) Drew 1-1

TEAM NEWS:
Serbia
Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic, 29, has an ankle injury while Stojkovic has damaged his right hip, although the 24-year-old from Sporting Clube de Portugal is expected to be fit to face Poland on Wednesday. OFK Beograd keeper Radisa Iliæ has been called in as cover but the uncapped Vlada Avramov of ACF Fiorentina should deputise.
Squad: To be announced…

Kazakhstan
Coach Arno Pijpers has a relatively fresh squad to choose from, with nearly all of the first-team starters reporting home available and fully fit. There was a doubt over star player Andrey Karpovitch, but after a late fitness test the playmaker has been passed fit.
Squad: To be announced…

PREDICTION:
Serbia will win because they have no room for error. But Kazakhstan are a rapidly improving side and have sprung a few surprise results in this group already, So they will be resolute enough to avoid being put to the sword in what will be a hostile atmosphere in Belgrade.
Serbia 1-0 Kazakhstan

source:goal.com