Dragan Stojković, the coach of the Serbian national football team, said today that the atmosphere in the team is excellent ahead of the start of the European Championship qualifiers, and that he is now only thinking about the match with Lithuania.
"The atmosphere is really great. The boys are fully committed to the challenges ahead and I believe that tomorrow they will show everything that we want, want and can do," said Stojković at the press conference.
The players of Serbia will meet the selection of Lithuania on Friday at the "Rajko Mitić" stadium, in the first round match of the Group G qualification for the European Championship in Germany.
Three days later, Serbia will host the selection of Montenegro.
The selections of Bulgaria and Hungary are also playing in Group G, and the two first-placed selections will secure a place at the European Championship in 2024.
Serbia last participated in the continental competition in 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Stojković added that the first three days of preparation in Stara Pazova were done according to plan and program.
"So a classic standardization... We used the time to talk about everything, so as far as that side is concerned, I'm completely satisfied," he said.
Stojković said that he was aware of the events, regarding the criticism of the English media against Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović.
The Fulham player received a red card in the quarter-final match of the FA Cup against Manchester United, after pushing the referee away.
"What is important for me is that he is absolutely concentrated on playing in the national team and his role in the team. I am convinced that there will not be any problems as far as his game is concerned and his performance at the end of the day," he pointed out.
Stojković said that all players except Luka Jović are healthy and ready for tomorrow's match.
He assessed that it is always good for a coach when one player can play in two positions, which is the case with Sevilla footballer Nemanja Gudelja.
"Whether he will play in midfield or in that back line we will see," he said.
The coach of the Serbian national team pointed out that he wants to qualify for the competition in Germany, after a long break, but that he will have to go "step by step".
"One skating was at the World Cup, we shot, but we missed the target. The challenge called the European Championship in Germany is coming in front of us again, and we really want to be part of the biggest European football show. Let's think about how to win Lithuania, and then when it passes around midnight, let's think about the next opponent," he said.
Speaking about the lineup for the match against Lithuania, Stojković said that he "needs to be wise", since the selection is expected for the match against Montenegro on Monday.
"You have to be wise, you have to be smart and you have to make a strategy, and I hope that I will make it right for the Serbian team," he said.
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