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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Scotland hit with playoff warning as Steve Clarke told 'real' Serbia will show up despite Hungary defeat

Scotland have been warned not to expect Serbia to be as bad as they were against Hungary - because that wasn't their real team.

Serbia boss Ljubisa Tumbakovic insists his priority was the Norway game and he made a host of changes against Hungary, where they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat.

Steve Clarke's men will travel to Belgrade for the final of the play-offs next month with the winners qualifying for Euro 2020.

While Scotland were beating Slovakia in the Nations League, Serbia suffered a shock home loss to the Hungarians.

But Tumbakovic insists he's not worried by the defeat.

He said: "Look, the priority was our match in Norway which we won. We are through to the Final with Scotland - that's the only thing that counts.

"I accept the criticism for the loss from Hungary, but there were valid reasons for it.

"We had a squad of 32 players and we wanted to look at them. It has given me solutions for playing against Scotland.

"The squad for the game against Scotland will be a lot less, That display has made up my mind.

"We are in last position now in our Nations League group and that's never a nice position, but I have to be honest and say I'm not worried.

"That defeat against Hungary was not the real national team of Serbia. When we have to play better, like against Scotland, we will."

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