It's not all that often that teams which faced each other in the opening round of the tournament play again in the knockout rounds.
Mali will hope that it learned a lot of lessons from its initial game against Serbia, one which was lost 2-0.
ODDS ANALYSIS
It's not quite a pick 'em proposition, but even though Mali was run off of the pitch the first time these two teams met in New Zealand, this is a close run thing.
The African side is lined at +225 to take this fixture in 90 minutes, which would be a huge accomplishment for sure. Serbia is the +125 moneyline favorite and is -160 to advance on to the U-20 World Cup final.
The total is the higher of the two semifinals at a flat 2.5, though it should be noted that none of the games in the quarterfinals featured more than two goals.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"The opposition today were simply very strong. Some of my players didn't perform as they normally would, so I'm a bit disappointed about that. To be in with a chance of progressing, we need to start by getting ourselves motivated again. My lads are capable." – Mali manager Fanyeri Diarra following the 2-0 loss to Serbia a week and a half ago in the group stage of the U-20 World Cup
RECENT FORM
Mali of course, has a little bit of luck to thank just for getting to this point. The team ended on just four points through the three group stage matches, and it had to get into the Round of 16 on the drawing of lots.
Serbia meanwhile, saw off Mexico 2-0 on the same day to win Group D.
The Serbians though, have been the hotter of the two sides in general. They needed extra time to see off Hungary and penalties to pull off the upset of the United States, but the bottom line is that this is four straight wins without defeat.
Mali has knocked off Ghana impressively (3-0) and Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Mali has been defying the odds here at the World Cup every step of the way, and the fact of the matter is that their Cinderella run seems destined to end at some point.
Serbia is the better of these two teams by a relatively wide margin, and we saw that with the first match these two played.
Sergej Milinkovic proved to be too good on free kicks to be denied, while Mijat Gacinovic was too fast in the open field, causing a number of fouls.
Mali is one of the most penalized teams in this tournament in terms of fouls, and leaving set piece opportunities for the Serbians isn't going to end up being a good result. Serbia should be even better with the ball than it was in the first go around of these two teams, and it is plays as tactically sound as it has here in the knockout rounds, not only will it be through to the final, but it will have a great chance to claim the U-20 World Cup as well in the process.
Serbia 2, Mali 1
BookMaker has live U-20 World Cup odds for every clash of the season. BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Serbia opened as a +125 favorite. The first offering of the total came in at 2.5 (over -110). Live wagering during the match offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer match now!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone or tablet with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between Serbia and Mali will take place on Wednesday, June 16, 2015, at 3:30 a.m. at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
