TWO Serie A Serbia stars made a dramatic dash home so they can face Scotland on Thursday.
Semi-final hero Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and 94-cap skipper Aleksandar Kolarov headed to Belgrade despite Serbia’s plans being thrown into chaos by shock new Italian health rules.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scored in semi-final win over NorwayCredit: Reuters
Boss Ljubisa Tumbakovic’s plans looked to have been wrecked when Italian medical chiefs refused to allow six top-flight clubs to let their players travel to play because of Covid concerns.
They would require to quarantine on their return to Italy – but Kolarov’s Inter team bosses were locked in discussions with authorities to see if providing private jets would get them round the rules.
It’s understood both Kolarov and Milinkovic-Savic flew to Serbia privately before the Italian authorities’ decree.
Players from top-flight sides Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Lazio, Roma and Sassuolo are affected – and have threatened to wreck Serb boss Tumbakovic’s plans just three days before the meeting with Scotland in Belgrade.
Milinkovic-Savic was the two-goal Serb hero of their win in Oslo which set up Thursday’s meeting with Steve Clarke’s side.
It’s understood Kolarov and his Serbia team-mate flew back privately Credit: Reuters
Filip Djuricic of Sassuolo, who’s already tested positive for Covid-19, is definitely out.
And doubts remain over the availability of Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic, along with Milos Veljkovic, who’s being prevented from travelling by his club Werder Bremen.
Fiorentina frontman Dusan Vlahovic would also miss the clash.
Serbia boss Tumbakovic named a 32-man squad for their three games against Scotland, Hungary and Russia so they would be unlikely to call any new faces up.
Meanwhile, the Serbia gaffer praised opposite number Clarke ahead of Thursday’s clash and warned his players not to underestimate the Scots.
Serbia gaffer Ljubisa TumbakovicCredit: EPA
He said: “Steve Clarke is a very experienced manager. Unlike Norway, he does not have superstars to work with, but he has a squad of players who work hard for each other.
“Their two most famous players – Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Scott McTominay of Manchester United – integrate well with the rest of the team.
“They are more organised than Norway and extremely combative and disciplined.
“Our problem in this country is that we are underestimating them and we think they are weaker than Norway. They are not.
“Football is a massive part of their culture and they are on a very good run of form.”
Scotland fans watch crunch Euro penalty shoot-out from outside pub after 10pm curfew kicks in
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
