Road to Qatar: how Serbia qualified for World Cup 2022 - in pictures

We look at how Aleksandar Mitrovic and Co sealed their spot at the finals

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  HOW SERBIA QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: (Group A): March 24, 2021. Serbia 3 (Vlahovic 40', Mitrovic 69', 75') Republic of Ireland 2 (Browne 18', Collins 86'): A double from substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic - including a sensational chip from 35 yards - helped Serbia secure three points in their opening match. AFP

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  March 27, 2021. Serbia 2 (Mitrovic 46', Kostic 60') Portugal 2 (Jota 11', 36'): Serbia showed their fighting mentality by battling back from 2-0 down to earn a draw against Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was controversially denied a winner when his late effort was judged not to have crossed the line. Getty

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  March 30, 2021. Azerbaijan 1 (Mahmudov pen 59') Serbia 2 (Mitrovic 16', 81'): Another Mitrovic double took the striker's goals tally in his career to 12 in 14 World Cup qualifying matches and meant Serbia had taken seven points out of a possible nine in their opening three games. AFP

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  September 4, 2021. Serbia 4 (Mitrovic 22', 35', Chanot og 82', Milenkovic 90+6') Luxembourg 1 (O Thill 77'): Another game, another Mitrovic double, taking his tally to seven goals in four games this group campaign. AFP

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  September 7, 2021. Republic of Ireland 1 (Milenkovic og 87') Serbia 1 (Milinkovic-Savic 20'): It looked like Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's header had earned Serbia all three points until a late Nikola Milenkovic own goal meant it was honours even in Dublin. Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made 10 saves to keep the visitors at bay. AP

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  October 9, 2021. Luxembourg 0 Serbia 1 (Vlahovic 68'): Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic earned Serbia a barely deserved win in a turgid game that lifted Dragan Stojkovic's team to the top of the group. Vlahovic also had a goal ruled out for offside in stoppage time. AP

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  October 12, 2021 . Serbia 3 (Vlahovic 30', 53', Tadic pen 83') Azerbaijan 1 (Mahmudov 45+2'): A double from Dusan Vlahovic helped Serbia take the points and left them joint top of the table with Portugal. The two teams were set to clash in their final group match. "I don't see why [Portugal] should be billed as favourites," Vlahovic said. "Qualifying automatically would be a fantastic achievement." Reuters

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  November 14, 2021. Portugal 1 (Sanches 2') Serbia 2 (Tadic 33', Mitrovic 90'): A last-gasp winner from Mitrovic sealed Serbia's place in the finals, condemning Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, who only needed a draw to take top spot, to the playoffs. "It was an amazing game, fully deserved," said Mitrovic. "We were the better team today in every aspect of the game." Reuters

It was a World Cup qualification campaign to remember for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Serbia who topped Group A to seal their spot in the finals.

The automatic qualification battle went down to the wire when the top two teams, Serbia and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, clashed in their final game.

And it was the Fulham striker who came out on top, scoring a dramatic late winner to book Serbia's plane ticket to Qatar and condemn Portugal to the play-offs.

Mitrovic would also outgun the mighty Ronaldo in the qualification scoring stakes, notching eight times to the Manchester United veteran's six.

Serbia would finish unbeaten in the group stage, three points ahead of the Portuguese. In Qatar, they have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon.

In the gallery above, you can see how Serbia qualified for the finals that kick off on November 20. To view the next image, click on the arrows or just swipe if on a mobile device.

Serbia's fixtures in Qatar

November 24 Brazil v Serbia – Lusail Stadium (11pm)

November 28 Cameroon v Serbia – Al Janoub Stadium (2pm)

December 2 Serbia v Switzerland – Stadium 974 (11pm)