Serbia seek response against Netherlands after five straight defeats

Serbia coach Veljko Paunovic has called for belief and a more attacking approach as his struggling side prepare to face the Netherlands in Eindhoven on Sunday. The Balkan nation have lost five consecutive matches across competitive fixtures and friendlies, setting a new negative record for Serbia.

The Netherlands contributed to that sequence by beating Serbia last week, earning their first victory under Xavi. Serbia have now lost their opening three Nations League matches and sit bottom of Group 2 with no points. Greece lead the section with seven points, followed by the Netherlands on five and Germany on four.

Paunovic acknowledged that Serbia’s results have fallen short of expectations but said the squad had worked hard and also found room for laughter during their final training session. He stressed the importance of players continuing to trust both themselves and one another as they attempt to reverse their form.

The coach believes the competition’s format still gives Serbia an opportunity to change the wider perception of the team. He told VI that every Serbia match must be approached “like a final”, regardless of the standings. Paunovic also suggested that committing more players and energy to attack could help restore enjoyment, which he views as an important ingredient in producing better results.

Serbia’s current five-game losing run is already their worst as an independent national side. VI notes that predecessor nation Yugoslavia suffered six consecutive defeats during the 1930s.