For Serbia, the target in Qatar is clear: reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time. While Serbian players have reached the semi-finals on two occasions previously as part of the former Yugoslavia, as an independent nation they failed to get out of the group stage in 2006, 2010, and 2018.
If Serbia are to change that, it will be down to the firepower they possess in attack. Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham, and Juventus No 9 Dusan Vlahovic have been in red hot form so far this season.
While Vlahovic has more top-flight experience, Mitrovic is the nation’s all-time top goalscorer who tends to deliver when it matters most.
Vlahovic and Mitrovic aren’t Serbia’s only weapons, though. The side’s midfield general, Sergej Milikovic-Savic is a playmaker of real quality.