Armenia v Serbia background
Monday, June 2, 2014
Article summary
Armenia take on Serbia in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group I fixture, still looking for a first international goal against their opponents in their fourth encounter.
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Article body
A first senior international goal against their opponents would be a start for Armenia as they take on Serbia in their opening UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group I fixture.
Match background
• Armenia's record in three matches against Serbia is W0 D1 L2 (W0 D1 L1 at home, W0 D0 L1 in Serbia).
• The sides' only competitive meetings to date came in UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying. Javier Clemente's Serbia beat Ian Porterfield's Armenia 3-0 in Belgrade on 11 October 2006, Dejan Stanković (53p), Danko Lazović (61) and Nikola Žigić (90+2) on target, the latter after Rafael Nazaryan was sent off for a second bookable offence (76). With Vardan Minasyan in charge, Armenia drew the return fixture 0-0 in Yerevan on 13 October 2007.
• More recently, Zdravko Kuzmanović (15) and Branislav Ivanović (30) scored aganst Minasyan's Armenia in a 2-0 friendly win in Limassol, Cyprus, for Serbia, led by caretaker coach Radovan Ćurčić on 28 February 2012.
• Armenian and Serbian club sides have met in four UEFA club competition matches, with the Serbian sides having the better of them – W2 D2 L0 (W1 D1 L0 at home, W1 D1 L0 in Armenia). Most recently, FK Partizan eliminated FC Shirak on away goals in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round after two draws – 1-1 in Gyumri, 0-0 in Belgrade.
• In 14 games between Armenian and Serbian sides – including club games, youth games, and senior national team matches – a Armenian side has yet to record a victory (D4 L10).
