AL WAKRAH, Qatar – Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic accused his players of losing their heads as he saw their World Cup knockout hopes dwindle, following a three-minute meltdown in which they threw away a two-goal lead against Cameroon on Monday.
Serbia had been cruising at 3-1 up in the second half, after pulling the African side apart with two goals in first-half stoppage time from Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic before Aleksandar Mitrovic added a third after the break.
That put them on the brink of a victory that would have revitalised their campaign heading into Friday’s final Group G match against Switzerland.
Yet the introduction of Vincent Aboubakar off the bench seemed to give the African side added impetus, and momentum quickly shifted in their favour at Al Janoub Stadium.
Aboubakar pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute with an audacious chip and then rolled the ball into the path of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to level the scores three minutes later.
For both goals, Serbia were caught out at the back, playing an improbably high line and leaving acres of space for Cameroon to exploit.
“Of course, players should not lose their heads,” Stojkovic told reporters. “We are frustrated as we wanted the win and had the match in our hands but our silly mistakes allowed Cameroon to avoid defeat.”
“We made two huge mistakes in the defence. At this level it is very dangerous to go high up when your opponent has the ball – these two mistakes cost us victory. It is difficult to understand and completely unnecessary.”
The draw left Serbia, with one point from two games, needing to beat Switzerland to have a chance of reaching the last 16. Their destiny is not in their own hands, however, and they also need other results to go their way.
Serbia’s performance was not entirely negative for Stojkovic, however, who saw a different side to his team going forward than in their opening 2-0 defeat by Brazil.
Their third goal, in particular, showed they are capable of cutting through opponents as a well-worked passing move ended with Mitrovic finishing from close range.
“I am very satisfied with my players because they showed a new face compared with the first match,” said Stojkovic.
“We created a lot of chances and dangerous situations, we hit the post and missed opportunities as well. I am very happy with how we reacted especially when we went 1-0 down.”
His opposite number, Cameroon’s Rigobert Song praised his team’s fighting spirit in the absence of first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was left out for disciplinary reasons.
Onana was marked as “absent” on the team sheet and Song explained that he had to put the team first for a game that left the Indomitable Lions on one point before they play Brazil.
“He is a very important player but we are in a competition and my role is to put the team first ahead of an individual,” Song told the media amid reports of a falling out over tactics.
“Maybe we needed a strong signal. It’s a big risk that I took.
“But I’m the dad of these kids so when I have to take risks and make decisions, I do that and I stand by what I do.”
The 46-year-old Song, who won a record 137 caps for Cameroon and played in four World Cups, has yet to decide whether Onana will be sent home or if he will get a second chance. REUTERS
