Serbia Seeks Redemption Against Germany as Nations League Pressure Builds

Serbia Seeks Redemption Against Germany as Nations League Pressure Builds
Serbia will host Germany at Belgrade’s Rajko Mitić Stadium on Friday at 20:45, hoping to respond to a 2–0 defeat in the teams’ first Nations League meeting. The hosts have lost all four of their matches and sit bottom of Group 2, while Germany are third on five points. Serbia could still climb the table, but only with victories in their final games and further German losses.

The match carries added weight for Serbia because the team’s first performance against Germany was widely viewed as too passive. A Serbian preview described facing Germany as “a privilege” but said the earlier display should bring “maximum effort and a huge desire to prove themselves.” The restricted crowd—limited by a Football Association of Serbia sanction to children under 14 and their teachers or coaches—will add an unusual backdrop to the contest.

Paunović has presented the fixture as both a competitive test and part of a longer rebuilding process. “Our main goal is qualification for the European Championship,” he said, while adding that the remaining Nations League matches offered a chance to measure the squad against strong opponents and learn from the results.

Serbia will be without suspended midfielders Saša Lukić and Nemanja Maksimović, as well as several injured players. Dušan Vlahović is also absent, though Paunović rejected speculation that players were deliberately avoiding national-team duty and praised the squad’s attitude.

The coach will not be on the bench after collecting two yellow cards. An assistant will relay instructions from a designated stadium room, under arrangements made to comply with UEFA and FIFA rules. Despite the setbacks, Paunović said Serbia want to improve in both attack and defence—and still have an opportunity to remain in the Nations League’s top division.