Stojkovic: Serbia to return to winning ways in EURO 2024 qualifiers

STARA PAZOVA - The head coach of the Serbia men's national football team Dragan Pixie Stojkovic said on Monday his squad would return to winning ways as early as at the start of EUR0 2024 qualifiers next March.

Stojkovic was speaking to reporters at the Football Association of Serbia sports centre in Stara Pazova, near Belgrade, following the national team's exit from the World Cup in Qatar.

In the group stage, Serbia drew 3-3 with Cameroon and lost 2-0 to Brazil and 3-2 to Switzerland, finishing at the bottom of the group table with just one point.

"To achieve better results at major competitions, you need a continuity of playing in them... As early as in March, we will return to winning ways, Serbia will be mighty again and will be at a European championship again after 24 years. We have been nowhere in the past 20 years. We have had two or three Champions Leagues when it comes to clubs and four World Cups," Stojkovic said.

He noted that mere qualification for the World Cup in Qatar was a great success for Serbia.

"That must be appreciated and whoever wants to deny that, it is not going to work for them. I know how much the players are sacrificing themselves and giving their all to represent Serbia in the best possible way. One cycle is over and, to recap it, I will say that two out of three objectives have been accomplished. I accept that failure to reach the knockout stage in Qatar is an unsuccessful result," he said.

"Serbia must believe in these guys and believe we will go to Germany for the EURO and make Serbia proud again," he said.