Preview: Denmark vs. Serbia - prediction, team news, lineups

Denmark and Serbia will both continue their preparations for the 2022 World Cup when the two sides face each other in a friendly at the Parken Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts lost 4-2 against the Netherlands in their last outing, while Serbia edged out Hungary in their friendly encounter on Thursday.

Match preview

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After enjoying six consecutive victories across competitive and friendly contests, Denmark were brought down to earth when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Scotland in their final World Cup qualifier.

They had the chance to return to winning ways against the Netherlands on Saturday, but the Danes ultimately fell short as Louis Van Gaal's side ran out 4-2 winners.

Despite finishing up on the losing side at the weekend, the whole of Denmark would have been overjoyed to see Christian Eriksen find the net in his international comeback.

The Netherlands took a 3-1 lead into half time in Amsterdam thanks to strikes from Steven Bergwijn, Nathan Ake and Memphis Depay, with Denmark's only goal of the first period coming from the head of Jannik Vestergaard.

However, just two minutes into the second period, half-time substitute Eriksen swept the ball home and though Bergwijn scored to make it four, the match will be remembered as the day that Eriksen made his emotional return to the international stage.

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Like their hosts, Serbia will also be in Qatar at the end of the year after they finished top of a qualification group that featured Portugal.

Serbia accumulated 20 points from their eight qualifying games, which ultimately enabled them to finish three points clear of Portugal who were heavily favoured to top the group.

Having achieved qualification, Dragan Stojkovic's side will now be focused on the 2022 World Cup, and those preparations got off to a promising start on Thursday when Serbia edged out Hungary in Budapest.

A first-half own goal from Zsolt Nagy decided the friendly contest, but Stojkovic will recognise that Tuesday's meeting with Denmark represents a great test in the build-up to Qatar.

Denmark are ranked ninth in the world, while Serbia find themselves in 25th place in the FIFA rankings, so a positive result in Copenhagen would offer encouragement that Tuesday's visitors are well equipped to compete with the very best in Qatar.

Team News

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Tuesday's contest will also be an emotional evening for Denmark and Eriksen, with the Brentford man set to play for his country at the Parken Stadium for the first time since that horrific day in June last year.

Eriksen is expected to be one of a number of players who will come into Tuesday's lineup, with Christian Norgaard, Kasper Dolberg and Jacob Bruun Larsen all in contention for starting spots.

Kasper Hjulmand may be tempted to give minutes to one of the backup goalkeepers, and if he decides to do so then Frederik Ronnow may get the nod to replace Kasper Schmeichel.

As for the visitors, they will also use the game to take a look at a number of players, although Filip Kostic could retain his place in the side after only playing the first half against Hungary.

Marko Dmitrovic has made 18 international appearances for his country, and the goalkeeper is expected to be given minutes on Tuesday, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic set to drop to the bench.

Serbia's all-time top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic could also move out of the starting lineup, with Stojkovic keen to take a look at Real Madrid's Luka Jovic.

Denmark possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Andersen, Vestergaard, Nelsson; Bah, Norgaard, Delaney, Maehle; Bruun Larsen, Eriksen, Dohlberg

Serbia possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Veljkovic, Nastasic, S. Mitrovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Racic, Kostic; Tadic, Milinkovic-Savic, Jovic

We say: Denmark 2-1 Serbia

Although Denmark have lost their last two international matches, we expect them to utilise home advantage on Tuesday to edge out a Serbia side in a contest between two nations that will feature at the World Cup in November.

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