The Battle of Belgrade

Wales, through no real fault of their own, have endured a five-month build-up for their crunch Euro 2004 qualifier with Serbia and Montenegro which will shape the destiny of their campaign.

The Group Nine meeting is massive. And for those five months, everyone has been talking about this contest. Now the conjecture is almost over.

Welsh players have been thinking about nothing else - well almost! And you wonder how much the huge build-up has affected them.

The nation have not been in this position for nearly half-a-century since qualifying for the 1958 World Cup and, in recent times when the prize of qualification from their group has been within their grasp, they have lost out.

And the fear is that may not have the know-how to win this group outright. Everyone is hoping that this will be the year when that hoodoo is finally vanquished and Mark Hughes' talented squad can achieve something that will firmly establish them in the Welsh sporting Hall of Fame.

Glory boys they won't be, however, if they are not hob-nobbing with the big guns of European football in Portugal next summer.

Welsh expectations are high. Hughes has masterminded what some might have labelled a miracle two years ago. He and his players have put Wales in uncharted waters.

The Principality have reacted. Wales is one of only six countries to have sold out their allocation of 'follow my team' tickets at the Euro 2004 finals.

But, as Welsh football fans of old have been accustomed to, there is a concern at the back of the mind that there a sting in the tail. Will the same old thing happen and Wales miss out on another major championship finals?

Hughes has got the feel-good factor back in Welsh football so people must put their faith in him and his players to do the country proud.

Wales have had a record-breaking start to their qualifying campaign. They have won away in Finland and beaten Italy in Cardiff. Back-to-back wins against Azerbaijan have almost been expected.

However, the Welsh have never beaten a side from the Balkans and that is where the players need to show their mental toughness. They know they can beat the best if they concentrate and remain focused.

The next 52 days are the among the most important in Welsh football history. The home straight at the end of such a marathon is the toughest and getting over the line ahead the most important stage of it all.

After this match in Belgrade, Wales take on Italy, the side they beat 2-1 in such dramatic fashion at the Millennium Stadium last October, in Milan just over a fortnight from now.

Then it is Finland at the Millennium Stadium four days after that with the final qualifier at home to Serbia on October 11.

John Hartson's sad absence leaves a big void up front for today's clash. The Celtic striker has been immense for Wales under Hughes. He has been the lynchpin and one of the most important players in the team.

His hold-up play is superb as he brings Wales' creative masters - Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Simon Davies - into the game. And, with four goals in his last five games, as a striker he does what he's there for.

Nathan Blake will try to fill Hartson's big boots. The Newport-raised Wolves frontman is not as dominating a figure as Hartson but can hold the ball up well.

This is his tremendous chance to show he can cut the mustard at the highest level and, if his professionalism on the pitch is the same as it is off it, he'll pass with flying colours.

Serbia have a ruthless attack when the mood takes them. Savo Milosevic of Celta Vigo and PSV Eindhoven wonder boy Mateja Kezman can be dangerous and Wales, without centre-back stalwart Andy Melville, will need to be on their guard.

And with new man Ilija Petkovic in charge, it could all depend on which Serbian team take the field. They are so inconsistent - world-beaters one minute, useless the next, as a defeat and a draw to Azerbaijan proves.

Hughes will also be pleased that this game has been re-arranged.

It was due to be played back in April and, for that, skipper Gary Speed, right-back Mark Delaney, defender Danny Gabbidon, pace ace Craig Bellamy and midfielder Robbie Savage would have missed it. Hughes will be thankful for small mercies.

Much has been made of the supposed volatile atmosphere of the crowd in Belgrade but, despite a capacity 54,000 tickets sold for the original game, Serbian soccer chiefs fear the Red Star Stadium could only be half full this time around

If happens to be the case, it would be a blessing for Wales' firebrands Savage and Bellamy, who have a habit of flaring-up in a tough atmosphere.

That pair, along with defender Robert Page and midfield battler Mark Pembridge, have already picked up a yellow card in this campaign, so another caution would result in them missing the vital Italian showdown in the San Siro next month.

And that is something Wales can ill afford at the moment with the finishing post so tantalisingly close.

TONIGHT'S PROBABLE STARTING LINE-UPS:

Wales (4-5-1): Paul Jones (Southampton); Mark Delaney (Aston Villa), Robert Page (Sheffield United), D Gabbidon (Cardiff City), Gary Speed (captain, Newcastle United); Craig Bellamy (Newcastle United), Mark Pembridge (Everton), Robbie Savage (Birmingham City), Simon Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United); Nathan Blake (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Serbia and Montenegro (3-5-2): Dragoslav Jevric (Vitesse Arnhem); Nenad Djordjevic (Partizan Belgrade), Gorna Gavrancic (Dynamo Kiev), Mladan Krstajic (Werder Bremen); Milivoje Cirkovic (Partizan Belgrade), Ivica Dragutinovic (Standard Liege), Goran Bunjevcevic (Tottenham Hotspur), Dejan Stankovic (Lazio), Predrag Dordevic (Olympiakos); Savo Milosevic (Celta Vigo), Mateja Kesman (PSV Eindhoven)