Serbia have to win to have any hope of qualification.
Switzerland will be through if they win: with a draw they will be relying on a Brazilian victory.
If the Swiss advance, it will be the third consecutive World Cup that they have made the knockout stages.
Preview:
Serbia and Switzerland play out the last chance of qualification for the Round of 16. Switzerland are coming off the back of their late defeat to Brazil, which in turn was enough to see the five-times champions through. The second game also brought disappointment for Serbia, as they drew 3-3 with Cameroon. The Eagles had come from a goal down to lead 3-1, before goals in quick succession from Aboubakar and Choupo Moting saw the game end all square. To be certain of progressing, Switzerland need a win against Serbia. They could even top the group on goal difference if they get it, should Brazil lose to Cameroon. A draw would see the Swiss through in second place if Brazil win or draw, but if Cameroon beat the South Americans then the runners-up spot would come down to goal difference between the African side and Switzerland.
Serbia, meanwhile, need to win to have any hope of advancing. If they do, and Cameroon does the same, the runners-up spot would be decided between them on goal difference. But if Serbia beat Switzerland and Cameroon fail to beat Brazil, Serbia will go through.
Team News:
Serbia are waiting nervously on the condition of Strahinja Pavlovic. The centre-back was forced off in the previous match against Cameroon, and is not at full fitness. He is expected to recover in time for the game against Switzerland, but if not, Stefan Mitrovic is ready to step in.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been training on his own, but he appears unlikely to miss Friday’s game.
For the Swiss, we could again see a change on the right wing. Having come off the bench against Brazil, Xherdan Shaqiri might return to the starting line-up, in place of Fabian Rieder, who is carrying a yellow card.
Previous meetings:
The last meeting in official matches took place at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™, with Switzerland winning 2-1. Trailing to a goal from Mitrovic in the opening minutes, the Swiss equalised through Xhaka and won thanks to a 90th minute goal by Shaqiri.
Seventeen years earlier the teams met twice in the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup Korea Japan 2002™. They drew 1-1 in Belgrade, while in Basel the away side, then known as Yugoslavia, won 2-1.
To find another World Cup meeting you have to go back to 1950 in Brazil: on that occasion, in Belo Horizonte, Yugoslavia prevailed 3-0 in a group game.
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored seven goals in his last six games for Serbia.
Against Brazil, Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka joined Xherdan Shaqiri, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Valon Behrami as the only players to make 10 FIFA World Cup appearances for Switzerland.
Switzerland are looking for a third consecutive appearance in the Round of 16.
Possible starting XIs:
Serbia: V.Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Gudelj, Kostic; S. Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic; Mitrovic
Switzerland: Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo
Officials :
Referee: Fernando Rapallini Assistant referees: Juan Pablo Belatti and Diego Bonfa Fourth official: Kevin Ortega
Venue:Stadium 974
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