Djordje Petrovic Sends Bournemouth a Timely Reminder With Impressive Serbia Display

There was little Djordje Petrovic could do to prevent Serbia from suffering defeat to Germany, but the Bournemouth goalkeeper can certainly come away from the international break with his reputation enhanced after another encouraging performance between the posts. The Serbian recovered well from a 'blip' vs Brentford with a good performance vs Liverpool, and continued that form tonight. 

Petrovic was handed the start ahead of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, a significant decision given the competition for the Serbia number one spot, and he justified the faith placed in him with a composed display despite his side being dominated for large periods.

Germany controlled much of the contest, putting Serbia under sustained pressure and forcing Petrovic into a busy evening. While the final result did not go Serbia’s way, the Bournemouth goalkeeper showed exactly the qualities that will have pleased both his international manager and those watching from the south coast.

His handling was assured, his positioning was generally excellent and he looked comfortable dealing with the pressure Germany applied. There were moments when Serbia were stretched and exposed, but Petrovic remained composed rather than allowing the difficult circumstances to affect his performance.

Goalies are often judged not only by the saves they make, but by how they respond when their team is under pressure. Petrovic was given plenty of opportunities to demonstrate that against Germany, and his ability to remain calm and focused tonight should be viewed as an encouraging sign, especially after his mistake in the last home game vs Brentford. 

The fact that he was selected ahead of Milinkovic-Savic makes the performance even more noteworthy. Competition for the Serbia goalkeeper position is fierce, but Petrovic has now been given an opportunity to show that he can be trusted at international level.

Cherries need Petrovic to be confident, consistent and ready to perform when called upon, particularly with the demands of a season involving Premier League and European football. Regular international involvement can only help his development and his confidence, especially when he is performing well against quality opposition.

One of the clearest indications of Petrovic’s influence came from his FotMob rating, with the Bournemouth goalkeeper receiving a team-high 7.8 despite Serbia’s defeat. That rating reflects just how important he was to keeping his side competitive against a dominant Germany side.

Petrovic made six saves throughout the game, underlining the amount of pressure he faced and his ability to repeatedly deny Germany when they threatened. He was also perfect in the air, winning 100% of his aerial duels.