Stojkovic: We have great respect for Hungary but we believe in our quality

STARA PAZOVA, Sept 6 (Tanjug) - We have great respect for Hungary and their quality and enormous progress over the past several years but, on the other hand, we believe in our own quality and in what we can provide on the pitch, and I expect a truly competitive game, the head coach of the Serbia men's national football team Dragan Stojkovic said ahead of Thursday's EURO 2024 qualifying match against Hungary at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade.

"We do not know how the Hungarians will be playing, but I do know how Serbia will - that is my job. I am pleased with what I have seen in the past three days. Exceptional motivation and spirit, which means a lot to me. The players came in smiling. I am particularly glad about our bill of health. All players are ready for the match," Stojkovic told a press conference at Stara Pazova, near Belgrade.

He added that the game was very important but definitely not crucial for EURO qualification.

"We want to be winning all the time - sometimes it is possible, sometimes it is not," Serbia captain Dusan Tadic said.

"Our objective is to qualify for the EURO, we want to achieve that result so badly," he noted.

Hungary and Serbia are tied atop the group table with seven points each and Montenegro follow with four points, Bulgaria have two points while Lithuania have one point.