SERBIA - FRANCE 1:1 (0:1)

Serbia’s friendly match against the excellent French team ended as a draw (1: 1) before the start of qualifying matches for the UEFA European Championship 2016.

The final score in the international friendly match of the national teams of Serbia and France was 1:1 (0:1).

Goalscorers: Pogba 12th min for France and Kolarov in the 80th min for Serbia.

The attendance on the stadium of FK “Partizan” was about 12,000, it was a pleasant weather to play the match. The referee was: Wolfgang Stark from Germany.

Yellow cards: Nastasić, Djuričić (Serbia), Cabaye, Pogba (France)

Serbia: Stojkovic – Ivanovic, St. Mitrovic, Nastasić, Kolarov – Gudelj (from 61st min Kuzmanovic), N. Matic – Z. Tosic, D. Tadic (from 61st min F. Đuricic), L. Markovic (from 86th min Ljajic) – F. Djordjevic (from 75th min., Al. Mitrovic)

Coach: Dick Advocaat

Team Captain: Branislav Ivanovic

France: Lloris – Sagna, Varane, Matthieu, Digne- Cabaye, Pogba (from 74 min Matuidi), Schneiderling – Sissoko (from 82 min Valbuena), Cabella (from 62 min Lacazette – Remy (from 60 min Benzema) .

Coach: Didier Deschamps

Team Captain: Hugo Lloris

Serbia starts its qualifying campaign on October 11 in Yerevan against Armenia for the UEFA European Championship 2016 that will be held in France.

The rest of the participants in our group are: Portugal, Denmark and Albania.

The group winner and the runner-up from each group will have the right to participate in the final tournament in France.

By the end of this year, Serbia will play a total of three qualifying matches. In addition to the match with Armenia, Serbia will play in October and November its home matches against Albania and Denmark.

Introducing of the new Serbian Head Coach Dick Advocaat and a general test that Serbia had, was successful because our players showed in the second half that they can play an equal game against strong opponents.

The Dutch coach on the bench of Serbia had an interesting team on the pitch. The following players played in the last line of defence: Team Captain Ivanovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Nastasić and Kolarov. In front of them, in the role of defensive midfielders were the following players: Gudelj and N. Matic. Offensive trio of midfield players consisted of two wing players: Z. Tosic (right) and L. Markovic (left). Between them in the line stood D. Tadic. The only attacking player was F. Djordjevic

The Head Coach of France Deschamps has set a similar tactic and there was a huge change of places only in the midfield area. That has confused our defence was confused in the first half. In the last line, Deschamps played with four players, the midfield area had three players, and there were two players that played as wings. The only attacking player was Remy.

Our team seemed to be very slow In the first half, and the players had a lot of wrong passes. France was at that time successfull in the ball possession,and therefore they did not allow to the opponent to approach often to the goal of Lloris.

Serbian Head coach made few substitutions in the second half that have improved the game. The midfield line was playing much better, and the attacks were more frequent and more dangerous. In the finish of the match Serbia was even able to achieve a victory, but the French goalkeeper Lloris has saved his net.

The only goal scored for Serbia’s was the goal by the left-back Kolarov. After a free kick and the combination with the captain Ivanovic, Kolarov has scored in his style with a great shot from 30 meters.