The Serbian national team earned a spot at Euro 2024, sealing their qualification with a performance that reflected resilience and tactical depth.
In the Euro 2024 Qualifying Tournament, Group G, the marquee eighth round delivered a dramatic 2:2 draw between Serbia and Bulgaria on Bulgarian soil, a match witnessed by 7,325 supporters packed into the city stadium Dubocic in Leskovac. The contest was intensely contested from the opening whistle, showcasing both teams’ ambitions to secure a favorable result that would influence the final standings in the group.
The scoring began in the 17th minute when Milos Veljkovic, a 28-year-old defender from Werder Bremen, finished precisely from a well-constructed move that started with Nemanja Gudelj, the 32-year-old Sevilla midfielder, threading a decisive pass to release the breakthrough. The goal set a brisk tempo for the evening, with Serbia pressing forward as Bulgaria sought a swift response to remain competitive on the road.
Bulgarian fans were not for turning, and in the 59th minute Georgi Rusev tapped home after a sequence built by Alexander Kolev, the 30-year-old forward from Levski, providing the assist that restored parity. The equalizer intensified the chase, with both sides exchanging rapid transitions and chances as the clock moved toward the closing stages. Ten minutes later, Kiril Despodov, the 27-year-old midfielder from PAOK, lifted the visitors ahead, receiving a precise assist from Filip Krastev, the 22-year-old Los Angeles-based midfielder widely regarded for his pace and creativity.
The late moments carried tension, and the tying reply arrived when Srdjan Babic, the 27-year-old defender from Spartak Moscow, converted a precise pass from Dusan Tadic, the 34-year-old forward from Fenerbahce. Babic’s late intervention ensured Serbia would leave the stadium with a valuable point, reinforcing their momentum as the qualification picture took shape in the standings.
Despite the hard-fought draw, Serbia secured direct qualification to Euro 2024 by finishing second in the group, while Hungary rose to claim the top spot at the continental championship, reshaping expectations for the tournament. The result underscored the quality and depth present in the Serbian squad, highlighting tactical flexibility, collective discipline, and key moments of individual brilliance that defined the match.
Valery Karpin, a figure known for previous leadership of the Russian national team, commented after the match, expressing sympathy for Zenit and emphasizing the emotional weight carried by coaches and players in these high-stakes qualifiers. The remarks offered a nuanced perspective on the pressures of national-team leadership during a period of intense scrutiny and expectation, reflecting the broader context in which European qualifying campaigns unfold.