Mexico vs Serbia live online: updates, score and highlights | International Friendly

Serbia XI

Here is coach Veljko Paunovic's XI for Serbia upon his return to Mexico. The Serb used to coach in Mexico with Guadalajara and Tigres UANL. 

Mexico XI

Here is coach Aguirre's final starting XI before embarking on the World Cup. Just how similar will his XI look against South Africa in a weeks time?

The countdown is on

We are officially a week away from kicking off the World Cup and it will be Mexico taking on South Africa to start a month and a half long feast of football. The wait is nearly over, but in the meantime we can enjoy these friendlies and hope that each of the teams reaches their first match days safe and sound, happy and healthy for the world's biggest sporting event. 

Group A, and Mexico's schedule 

El Tri is heading into this match against Serbia on a seven match unbeaten streak, and they have only allowed one goal in that time. They will be looking to head into the World Cup with another clean sheet tonight against Serbia before facing South Africa, South Korea and Czechia in Group A. They play South Africa at 3 p.m. ET on the 11th, then take on South Korea on the 18th at 9 p.m. ET before wrapping up group stages against Czechia on the 25th at 9 p.m ET. All of those games will be played on Mexican soil, and they are bound to have a massive home field advantage. 

El Tri's World Cup squad

Javier Aguirre has been around the block once or twice. The former Atletico de Madrid manager is in his third sting with the national side, and this time he is looking to take this team to new heights. This is his squad that he is taking to the World Cup. 

Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Raúl Rangel (Chivas)

Defenders: Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Israel Reyes (América), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK), Johan Vásquez (Genoa), Mateo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfielders: Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Luis Romo (Chivas), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid), César Huerta (Anderlecht), Luis Chávez (Dinamo Moscow), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)

Forwards: Armando González (Chivas), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Julián Quiñones (Al Qadsiah), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Alexis Vega (Toluca)

Star watch: Mexico

Mexico is a different story. Coach Aguirre did say that he is looking to start an XI that is similar to the one he will put out against South Africa in a week's time. Jesus Gallardo is a Toluca living legend and is likely to get some minutes while Julian Quinoles, Roberto Alvarado and Santiago Gimenez are likely to get minutes in this final warm up before kicking off the World Cup next Thursday. 

Star watch: Serbia

With stars like Dušan Vlahović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Nikola Milenković, Mile Svilar and Filip Kostić absent from the squad, they will depend on young players like Luka Jovic, Lazar Samardzic and Sasa Lukic to lead the way in a game that there is really nothing to play for other than pride. 

Last game: Serbia  

Serbia's last game came against Cape Verde, and it was one to forget. Maybe the Serbs didn’t field their best XI with no World Cup coming up in their near future, but the 3-0 scoreline didn’t soften any of the pain of not reaching the biggest stage in the sport. Kevin Pina scored a goal in the 11th minute, and then two second half goals from Laros Duarte and Benchimoi were enough to slump the Serbs into a deeper depression in the days leading up to the World Cup while Cape Verde is on many people's list of being the surprise team of the tournament. 

Last game: Mexico

Javier Aguirre's side took on an Australian team that is heading to the World Cup in the same group as the USMNT. The defensive performance was fantastic, holding the Socceroos to a clean sheet while a first half goal from Johan Vasquez was enough to seal the deal in the penultimate match before the start of the World Cup. Could it have been better in the attacking end? Maybe, but in these matches playing a full 90 and keeping the clean sheet is almost more important because tells you that your team is ready for serious matches like the ones ahead. 

We are live from Toluca 

Hello everyone and welcome to Estadio Nemesio Diez where Toluca just won the Concacaf Champions Cup and now a couple of those champions will suit up with the El Tri during the World Cup. Mexico are looking to take advantage of some home cooking with all of their matches set to be played on home soil. For many in Mexico the important games have already started as they study just how ready their side is for the biggest stage. Defensively this team has been fantastic, lets see if they can get things going on the attacking end. 

Mexico vs. Serbia live  

It's Mexico’s final tune up before kicking off the World Cup on their home soil in just a week’s time. Before they meet South Africa on the pitch from the Estadio Banorte, they will take on a Serbia side that will be forced to watch the World Cup from home. We get one last look at El Tri before they kick off the festivities, and AS English will be with you all night long providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from Toluca.