Serbia vs Greece: A First League A Test With Little Room for Error

For Greece, this fixture carries a distinction that cannot be separated from the football: it is the national team’s first appearance in League A of the UEFA Nations League. Ivan Jovanović’s side have been placed in an exceptionally demanding group alongside Serbia, Germany and the Netherlands, so the opening trip to Belgrade immediately provides a high-level examination of how Greece can operate against established League A opposition. Serbia, meanwhile, retained its place in the top tier after beating Austria 3-1 on aggregate in the promotion-relegation play-off and now begin a new Nations League cycle under Veljko Paunović. The Serbian federation has confirmed that the Rajko Mitić Stadium will host the opening match at 20:45 local time. Both teams then face another fixture only three days later, which makes the opening selection and the management of key players particularly relevant. UEFA’s official match page lists the contest as the first Group A2 fixture for both countries.

The tactical battle could develop around how Greece’s midfield handles Serbia’s ability to place technically gifted players between the lines. Serbia have brought Dušan Tadić back into the squad after his previous international appearance in 2024, while Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saša Lukić, Lazar Samardžić and Andrija Živković give Paunović several different passing and attacking profiles. Greece arrive with a younger attacking group that includes Christos Tzolis, Konstantinos Karetsas, Vangelis Pavlidis and Charalampos Kostoulas, while Christos Zafeiris and Christos Mouzakitis provide options for building play through midfield. The Greek squad announcement confirms 26 players for the first four League A matches, including Konstantinos Mavropanos, Konstantinos Koulierakis and Kostas Tsimikas in defence. Serbia’s ability to press Greece’s first build-up phase will therefore be important, but Greece also have enough mobility to attack spaces if the home side commits too many players forward.

Personnel news has already changed the shape of the Serbian attack. Dušan Vlahović was initially included in Paunović’s squad but subsequently withdrew after sustaining an injury, according to reports from the Serbian football press, leaving Luka Jović as one of the principal alternatives in the centre-forward position. Current match information also lists Mihailo Ivanović and Veljko Milosavljević with late-September injury issues, although neither was formally removed from the original Serbian squad announcement, so their availability needs to be treated more cautiously than Vlahović’s withdrawal. Greece have their own defensive absences, with Dimitrios Giannoulis and Pantelis Chatzidiakos listed as unavailable by current match information. The distinction matters because the official Greek squad announcement does not include either player, while the remaining squad contains several established defensive options. No additional injury names have been added here where there is insufficient current evidence to establish a confirmed absence.

The pre-match discussion in Serbia has concentrated heavily on Paunović’s preparations, the return of Tadić and the consequences of Vlahović’s withdrawal, while Greek coverage has framed the occasion around the country’s historic arrival in the Nations League’s elite division. Jovanović has also acknowledged the personal dimension of facing Serbia, his country of birth, but stressed that the professional responsibility comes first. Serbia’s federation says its coaching staff began detailed preparation for Greece well before the squad gathered, specifically analysing the opponent and working on tactical details for the opening match. The Greek federation has similarly presented the Belgrade fixture as the beginning of a four-match sequence against Serbia, Germany and the Netherlands. **Variation rule for this edition:** the article starts with Greece’s League A milestone, then moves through the midfield battle, before treating the injury situation and press narrative as separate late-stage factors rather than opening with team news.

🟥 Latest Medical & Squad Availability

Serbia

Vlahović’s withdrawal is the clearest confirmed Serbian attacking absence. Ivanović and Milosavljević remain in a more uncertain category because they appeared on the original FSS squad list while current match information lists their respective injury problems.

Greece

Giannoulis and Chatzidiakos were not included in Ivan Jovanović’s official 26-player selection for the four opening Nations League matches, while current match information identifies both as injury absences.

🟢 Personnel Map Before the Teams Are Named

Starting XI status: Official starting lineups had not been released when this preview was prepared. The tables therefore use confirmed squad personnel only and do not present predicted elevens as official selections.

📋 What Matters Before Kick-Off

• Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group A2.
• Venue: Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade.
• Kick-off: 20:45 local time on 24 September 2026.
• Greece: Making its first-ever appearance in League A of the Nations League.
• Serbia: Retained League A status after defeating Austria 3-1 on aggregate in the play-offs.
• Serbia availability: Dušan Vlahović is ruled out after withdrawing through injury; Mihailo Ivanović and Veljko Milosavljević have current injury concerns.
• Greece availability: Dimitrios Giannoulis and Pantelis Chatzidiakos are absent from the selected squad with reported leg injuries.
• Starting XIs: Not officially announced when this preview was prepared.

UEFA confirms Serbia and Greece as the Group A2 opening fixture on 24 September, with the match taking place at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade. The wider group also contains Germany and the Netherlands, ensuring that both teams begin their League A campaign against the backdrop of a highly competitive six-match league phase.