Stojkovic ignores Ireland to focus on new-look Serbian side
The duty of selecting a new captain for the national team, and handing that armband to Ajax man Dusan Tadic, gave Dragan Stojkovic a sleepless night.
But ahead of his own debut as manager of the ‘Eagles’, Stojkovic says he’s less concerned about the makeup of the Ireland side which faces him in Belgrade tonight and is focused on getting the win needed to clear a cloud which has hung over the game in Serbia since a Euro 2020 playoff loss to Scotland which still causes pain.
As a player, Stojkovic starred in two World Cups for a side then known as Yugoslavia, scoring three goals across the finals in 1990 and 1998, and he knows the size of the challenge to make Serbia a force again after recent flops, like the failed bid to reach Euro 2020 and a dismal showing at the most recent World Cup finals.
To that end, he appeared to be bothered with the injury-influenced selection which Kenny will make. “To be honest, I do not pay attention to Ireland and their composition. I am focused on my team and my players," he said.
“I know enough how much a coach needs to know, which is enough to convey to my players, in a tactical sense, what will be waiting for us tonight. But I have a lot of respect for the Irish team,” he added.
“Our thoughts are focused on playing well, dominating the game and winning and we have to get ready for it. If you ask me if I would be happy with the point? I have to say no.
"We will do everything to win and we really believe that we can. The qualification process is short, we will know in November, so the stakes are high. Going to the World Cup is a priority and an obligation,” he added.
Captain Tadic played when Serbia let a 2-1 lead at home to Ireland slip and end up with a draw in a World Cup qualifier in 2016 and he stresses that there can be no repeat. “This is a new qualification campaign and we want to win,” Tadic said.
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