Brazil enter the World Cup in Qatar tipped as one of the favourites, but they could be in for a rude awakening if they underestimate Serbia in their tournament opener on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia and Japan have already shown what happens when former World Cup winners grow complacent. If Brazil makes the same mistake as Argentina and Germany, their fate could be even worse.
While looking through the Serbia squad recently, I got a distinct feeling of deja vu. I was reminded of when I looked through the Croatia squad ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
At the time, every name seemed to make me think “Oh my! I didn't know he was Croatian.” The team was stacked with multimillionaire footballers who played for top teams in the world's top five leagues. This Serbia team boasts at least the same level of star power, and in some ways is even more dangerous.
Starting from the back, the Serbian goalkeeping department and defence would initially give Brazil some hope. These players are no doubt talented and play at the elite level, but they are yet to announce themselves on the global stage. Neymar and co would fancy their chances against any defence.
However, it starts to get trickier once you get to the midfield. The first name that sticks out is Dusan Tadic.
English Premier League fans may know Tadic from the electric Southampton side under Mauricio Pochettino. Tadic was the creative lynchpin of the side, and his goals and assists had the team shooting well above their weight and fighting for a Europa League spot.
Tadic has since moved on to Dutch side Ajax, where continued to distinguish himself under manager Erik Ten Hag before the latter moved to Manchester United. Although Ten Hag is no longer there, Tadic continues to serve Ajax well.
The next name that catches the eye is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The towering central midfielder has been a pivotal figure for Italian Serie A team Lazio over the past few years, during which time they have consistently been competing for the Champion's League places.
Do not let Sergej's size fool you. Although the giant is indeed extremely strong, he combines his power with exceptional ball control, deceptive speed, and an outstanding passing range. His battle against the Brazillian wall that is Casemiro should be a sight to behold.
Finally, the Serbian attack is perhaps the most terrifying part of the team. In Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham, EPL) and Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus, Serie A) they have two powerful strikers that can bash their way through any defence. Mitrovic has been in fine form this season, while Vlahovic is one of the most sought-after strikers in the world.
If Brazil wanted an easy start to their World Cup campaign, then Serbia was probably their worst possible draw from the hat.
