Serbia vs. Germany: UEFA Nations League preview and live blog

Germany will continue their push for a UEFA Nations League quarter-final berth when they travel to Belgrade to face Serbia on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET) in their penultimate Group A2 encounter.

Germany's first international break under Jürgen Klopp was mixed. While they picked up a creditable draw against the Netherlands and had too much for Serbia at home, a defeat and a draw with Greece leave them third in their group, three points adrift of the top two.

What do Germany need to reach the quarter-finals?

After naming a 44-man group for the four matches in September and October, Klopp has returned to a 24-player squad for these two games, with the Netherlands up after this encounter.

There is a maiden call-up for Wael Mohya, while Niclas Füllkrug has earned a recall after his electric start to the Bundesliga campaign with Werder Bremen.

Serbia are bottom of Group A2 without a point and facing relegation. Their squad includes former Bundesliga players Luka Jović, Filip Kostić, Miloš Veljković and more.

Follow all the build-up and live action here:

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Serbia

Fri, 13.11 19:45

Germany

Nations League
Group A2, Matchday 5 Group A2, Matchday 5 Rajko Mitić Stadium

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Watch: Germany squad arrive at base

The Germany squad have arrived at their base in Herzogenaurach as they begin their preparations for this international break.

Anton out, Baku in

A change to Germany's squad for the clashes against Serbia and the Netherlands was announced on Sunday, with Borussia Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton having to pull out due to muscular problems and RB Leipzig's Ridle Baku (pictured) replacing him.

© Bundesliga/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Head-to-head record

Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz and Bayern's Tom Bischof (l-r.) were on target as Germany beat Serbia in Munich last month. It was only the second competitive meeting between the two European nations and fourth overall. Germany have won two, drawing and losing one.

© KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND

Urbig among returning faces

Klopp has kept faith with five players who made their senior international debuts during the September-October window. Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig (pictured), Cologne winger Saïd El Mala, Freiburg duo Philipp Treu and Derry Scherhant, and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib are all involved. VfB Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch and RB Leipzig attacker Brajan Gruda are yet to make their senior debuts, but have retained their places in the squad.

© IMAGO/Bahho Kara

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Watch: Klopp explains Mohya decision

Mohya handed chance

Klopp has also called up Borussia Mönchengladbach youngster Wael Mohya, who could make his senior international debut against Serbia or the Netherlands. The 17-year-old midfielder, who represented the Germany U21s during the September-October international break, has registered two goals and one assist so far this Bundesliga season.

© IMAGO/Weis/TEAM2sportphoto

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Watch: Klopp talks Füllkrug

Füllkrug recalled

Werder Bremen striker Niclas Füllkrug's prolific start to the Bundesliga campaign has been rewarded with a call-up to Klopp's 24-man squad. The 33-year-old, who is back in the Germany fold for the first time in over a year, has scored a league-leading nine Bundesliga goals in eight games since returning to Bremen on a loan deal from West Ham United.

© IMAGO/Leon Frick

Serbia: the story so far

Serbia are facing relegation from Group A2 after four straight defeats. Unless they beat Germany, the Eagles will be guaranteed to finish bottom before travelling to Greece for their final fixture in the section. The two sides that finish bottom of a League A group are automatically relegated. The other bottom sides in League A, third-placed sides in League A and bottom-placed sides in League B are at risk of relegation. The losers of the play-offs will be relegated.

© IMAGO/Bernd Feil/M.i.S.

Germany: the story so far

Germany have five points from their first four games in Nations League Group A2. The Jürgen Klopp era began with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, before defeat to Greece and a 2-0 home win over Serbia. The four-time world champions then drew 0-0 in Greece, leaving them third in the section, three points behind the two knockout-phase qualification berths. After travelling to Serbia, Klopp's side wrap up their group campaign at home to the Netherlands on 16 November.

© IMAGO/Michelle Luka

Welcome!

Follow all of the build-up and live action from Germany's UEFA Nations League clash with Serbia in Belgrade on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET).