A wonder strike from Serbian captain Aleksandar Kolarov has allowed a vital three points to be snatched in their opening Group E clash against Costa Rica.
Costa Rica struggled to get into the game during the first half, having less than 40 per cent possession when the players headed for the sheds, but it was a scoreless first half.
A free kick in the 56th minute, taken by Kolarov from well outside the penalty area, will go down as one of the goals of the tournament, with a somewhat dysfunctional Costa Rican attack then failing to level the game, despite having multiple opportunities late in the piece.
Final score
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Group E at the 2018 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a match which could knock one team out before their tournament even begins as Costa Rica take on Serbia. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10pm (AEST).
With Brazil and Switzerland the other two teams in the group, it becomes something of a group of death for Costa Rica and Serbia, both of whom could have been favourites to progress in other groups.
Neither are expected to fare well against the other teams in the group, but any chance of qualifying to the Round of 16 will require them to go on the attack here and win. Three points are crucial, as is goal difference, so both teams should come out firing in what could be an entertaining match.
Costa Rica have played three warm-up matches before heading to Russia, and while it started well with a big win over Northern Ireland, they struggled badly against England and Belgium.
Their loss to Belgium in particular was concerning, with four goals ran in as they struggled at the back, but it’s their attack which they will rely on in this match.
Captain Bryan Ruiz is the danger man, with 24 goals at international level.
Serbia, on the other hand, will be under all sorts of pressure in this one. Ranked 34th in the World Cup, they managed to qualify, but have low expectations about what they might be able to achieve at the Cup, with this first match against their Central American rivals likely to tell us plenty.
Across the last two international windows, their form has been patchy, but when they get it right, they have been hard to stop.
Thier final match before the beginning of the World Cup saw a 5-1 win over Bolivia, although losses to Chile and Morocco leave plenty of questions about where they are really at.
Striker Aleksandar Mitrović is the key man. He has been strong playing for Fulham this year, out on loan from Newcastle, but there is a considerable step up between the English second division and the World Cup.
Prediction
Costa Rica’s form line is a bit up, down and all over the place, but they can score goals against lower ranked opposition. I expect them to get the better of this game.
Costa Rica 2 – Serbia 1.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this FIFA World Cup match from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
anon
Roar Pro
Australia should be feeling hard done by about the penalty last night after a clear penalty in the dying minutes going unchecked by the VAR.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Full match report to come. Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Hopefull you enjoyed the call. Be sure to join Isaac and Lachlan for our coverage of Brazil vs Switzerland and Germany vs Mexico respectively at 1 and 4am (AEST) this morning. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
No worries AD, Yeah I'm calling it a night there.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME A wonder strike from Serbian captain Alexsandar Kolarov has allowed a vital three points to be snatched in their opening Group E clash against Costa Rica. Costa Rica struggled to get into the game during the first half, having less than 40 per cent possession when the players headed for the sheds, but it was a scoreless first half. A free kick in the 56th minute, taken by Kolarov from well outside the penalty area will go down as one of the goals of the tournament, with a somewhat dysfunctional Costa Rican attack then failing to level the game, despite having multiple opportunities late in the piece. Final score Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Thanks for the blog, Scott. Superb job as always. And thanks for the chats, Tom. Given none of us trio were in bed before, what, 4am yesterday, I'm surprised we're all still up.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, after a first half I didn't watch, eight minutes of injury time and plenty of second half drama, Serbia have done it. The final whistle goes and they take three points which will give them a chance at somehow escaping this extremely difficult group at the World Cup! Three points for Serbia on the back of a wonder strike! Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Yellow card is is. Okay then.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 8' - The VAR decide it's yellow for Prijovic. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Oh, this is interesting.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 7' - Looks like Prijovic has tried to fend off a player here. He basically slapped him in the face with the Costa Rican number three Gonzalez going to ground. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
TomC
Roar Guru
No way that's a clear error.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 6' - Costa Rica surely out of time now. Serbia got it all the way over halfway and then Costa Rica have one last push forward. Throw-in from just over halfway now and we have another hold up with the VAR involved again. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
How. Did. He. Miss? Oh, it's offside anyway.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 5' - Gamboa with a lovely cross here. Ruiz with an effort as the ball bounces away and it's blocked, before deflecting to Bolanos who skies his shot over the crossbar. Regardless, he was well and truly offside. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 4' - Going to be a delay here. The VAR are looking at a possible red card from that incident. There won't be one though and we are back underway. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' - And that corner comes to nothing. Serbia go on the break and Hostic goes on the run, over halfway and all the way to a shot from well outside the penalty area. From the goalkick the ball goes over the sideline and we have a blue! It's all happening here. The Costa Rican coach - or one of the managers on the sideline looked to try and hold onto the ball there I think. The Serbian went to grab it off him and all of a sudden players were rushing from everywhere. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Hahah, oh wow.
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 3' - Costa Rica are running out of time here. Cross towards Campbell and it's deflected behind for a goalkick. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
90 + 2' Serbia lose it in the middle of the field here and Ruiz takes it up field for Costa Rica, they win a throw-in and then go back to halfway. Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1