Aleksandar Kolarov’s stunning free kick proved the difference as Serbia started their 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in Group E on Saturday.
The Central American side, now led by coach Oscar Ramirez, reached the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago, but were undone by some memorable quality from Kolarov, whose set-piece capped off a functional showing from the Orlovi in the city of Samaras.
Costa Rica showed early signs of promise on the break, as Bryan Ruiz chipped a ball beyond Kolarov for the run of Marco Urena, who saw his shot smothered by Serbian stopper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Costa Rica showed more forward endeavour after the break, but it was Serbia who should have taken a lead when Milinkovic-Savic played Aleksandar Mitrovic beyond the defence, although he was thwarted by a brilliance save from Navas.
Serbia’s quality in the final third eventually told, but it came in avoidable circumstances when Guzman carelessly brought Mitrovic down on the edge of the area. The set-piece allowed Kolarov to step up in the 56th minute and bend a memorable free kick over the wall and beyond Navas into the top corner.
Serbia should have made the final 10 minutes a little less nerve-wracking when Tadic crossed for substitute Filip Kostic on the penalty spot, although Navas got a vital touch on the ball to prevent the forward from finishing on the half-volley.
Milinkovic-Savic turned in a standout second-half showing with some memorable forward passes and he played in Mitrovic to put the game to bed, but the forward fluffed his lines under pressure from Gonzalez.
In the end the misses were not too matter too much, though, as Mladen Krstajic’s charges held off some late Costa Rican pressure in order to seal an important three points.
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