Aleksandar Mitrovic hat trick sends Serbia to World Cup on a high

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:29 am

Aleksandar Mitrovic's fine club form translated into a hat trick for Serbia against Bolivia.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's fine club form translated into a hat trick for Serbia against Bolivia.
EPA/DOMINIK ANGERER

RAZ, Austria -- Serbia enjoyed a morale-boosting dress rehearsal for the World Cup after striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a hat trick in their 5-1 drubbing of Bolivia in a friendly on Saturday.

Forward Adem Ljajic and defender Branislav Ivanovic were also on target as the Serbians netted four of their goals in a lop-sided first half against the hapless Bolivians, who failed to qualify for the June 14-July 15 tournament in Russia.

Stung by a lacklustre 1-0 defeat against Chile on Sunday, Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ljajic playing behind Mitrovic and central midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic deployed in a deeper role.

The rejigged lineup fired on all cylinders in the opening half as Mitrovic headed Serbia into an early lead and made it 3-0 with a clinical finish after Ljajic drilled in the second with a fine shot from 13 yards.

Ivanovic, who equalled former midfielder Dejan Stankovic's record of 103 international appearances, volleyed in the fourth shortly before half-time after Mitrovic found him unmarked with an overhead kick across the face of the six-yard box.

The Serbians took their foot off the gas early in the second half and Bolivia quickly took advantage as Jhasmani Campos poked the ball past goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic after a fine solo run in the 48th minute.

Bolivia keeper Guillermo Viscarra parried two stinging shots from Dusan Tadic but was powerless when Newcastle United striker Mitrovic curled a delightful shot from 20 metres past him to cap an outstanding individual performance.

Winger Filip Kostic missed two good chances to add to Serbia's tally as they upped the tempo in the closing stages, roared on by several hundred passionate fans in Graz.

Serbia's fine display is likely to leave Krstajic with selection dilemmas ahead of their opening Group E game against Costa Rica on June 17, as Milinkovic-Savic may now be preferred to Luka Milivojevic in central midfield.

Centre-back Nikola Milenkovic, who won only his third cap, also looks set to get the nod ahead of more experienced players after a pair of rock-solid performances.

The Serbians play Switzerland on June 22 and Brazil five days later.