Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will not be going to next summer’s European Championships after his Serbia side lost to Scotland in the play-off game.
The 25-year-old Serbian star, who is contracted to the Biancocelesti until 2024, played the first 71 minutes of the encounter, struggling to make a strong impact against a cagey Scotland side, who had not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.
A late equalizer from Real Madrid forward Luka Jovic kept Serbian hopes alive. Extra time followed, with neither team managing to break the deadlock.
The penalties were all strong and decisive until Serbia’s final one, where Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic had his penalty saved by Scotland’s 35-year-old shot-stopper David Marshall.
Milinkovic-Savic will now have to wait until the upcoming World Cup in 2022 to potentially feature on the world stage.
The 25-year-old Lazio midfielder has made 19 appearances for the Serbian national team since his debut in 2017, scoring three goals and providing four assists in that time. He featured in the 2018 World Cup with his nation, playing every available minute.
