WCQ Preview: Faroe Islands – Serbia

If Serbia miss out on qualification for South Africa because of a loss against the French it may be a reason to cry. If Serbia retains the top-spot in the group and then lose it on the final day against Lithuania, it will definitely be a reason to cry. But if we miss on qualification because of a bad result against The Faroe Islands - it would most definitely be a good enough reason to punch the TV and throw it out of the window. Now, I won’t be underestimating anyone. The Faroe islands may be a team consisted of fishermen and some other part-timers, but they do have the ability to play a handball-like defense and frustrate much more illustrious opponents. In some way, I consider their every game in which they don’t get humilated a heroic one. But we must face the truth: in the battle to top the group ahead of the French and such, games against The Faroese MUST be won – period. I shiver in fear when I think of the damage we could recieve to our qualification hopes if we don’t win this one and not even the victory against France could repair that damage adequately. A rather quick preview to follow:

On purpose or not, both Dejan Stanković and Boško Janković will miss this game because of yellow cards, while Nemanja Vidić remains injured and unavailable to coach Radomir Antić. Our most dangerous goalscorer, Nikola Žigić, who missed the previous game against Austria because of yellow cards, returns to the team and will most definetely lead the forward line tonight. According to Antić, the rest of the starting line-up is uncertain and shall remains so until the game itself. It’s probably futile to try to guess a line-up, but I’ll give it a go nevertheless:

Stojković
Ivanović – Subotić – Dragutinović – Kolarov
Krasić – Kačar – Milijaš – Jovanović
Žigić – Pantelić

Prediction:

A win! Who cares about the result, The Faroe Islands are a banana skin that needs to be defeated at all costs, and if you ask me, it’s precisely what makes them a banana skin – an imperative to win that all sides have when they confront them. I’ll admit that I wouldn’t be too surprised if they managed to get a draw and make me eat my TV, but let’s pretend it’s a taboo and not take that possibility in consideration. Let’s believe in Antić and his boys, it’s that belief that drives this team forward and let’s not abandon that ship even before it crashes. Go, White Eagles!