Preparations underway for the England-Serbia World Cup qualifier amidst concerns regarding racial discrimination

England Prepares for Tough World Cup Qualifier Against Serbia

Thomas Tuchel's England team is gearing up for their toughest test yet in the World Cup qualifiers, as they face Serbia on Tuesday. The game, scheduled at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, will see England take on their highest-ranked opponent in the group, currently ranked at 32.

England has been in fine form so far, leading Group K with four wins from four games. Their victories, however, have been somewhat underwhelming, with the team needing an own goal to open the scoring during their 2-0 win over Andorra, who are ranked 170 places below England in the FIFA rankings.

Tuchel has been discussing UEFA's protocols for dealing with potential racism with the squad, following incidents of racist abuse in previous games. England's players have also held discussions about responding to potential racist abuse during the upcoming game against Serbia. The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has appealed to supporters to create a positive atmosphere and send out a proud image to the world.

The current coach of the Serbian football team, Dragan Stojkovic, will be looking to lead his team to an upset against the favourites. Tuchel, on the other hand, believes that the occasion of the game in a traditional stadium will bring out the best in England's team. He has also expressed his belief in the beauty of the sport and the beauty of the game, and does not want to put a focus on the potential for racism.

Captain Harry Kane has stated that their focus is on the game and beating Serbia. He believes that England handled the situation in Bulgaria well and will be prepared to deal with any potential racist abuse in the upcoming game. England won 6-0 in the Euro 2020 qualifying game in Bulgaria, their only previous meeting with Serbia.

Everyone, including defender Marc Guehi who had a sore groin against Andorra, is available to start on Tuesday. A victory against Serbia would put Thomas Tuchel's England team a step closer to qualifying for next year's World Cup finals.

UEFA ordered 15% of the seats at Rajko Mitic Stadium to be closed as punishment for racist behavior by Serbia fans in a previous game. The FSS has acknowledged the issue and has been working to address it.

As the game approaches, both teams will be looking to put on a strong performance and secure a valuable three points. England will be looking to continue their winning streak, while Serbia will be hoping to cause an upset and disrupt England's path to the World Cup finals.

Preparations underway for the England-Serbia World Cup qualifier amidst concerns regarding racial discrimination