Brazil vs Serbia – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 FIFA World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Brazil vs Serbia on and what time does it start? Brazil vs Serbia will take place on Thursday 24th November, 2022 – 19:00 (UK)
Where is Brazil vs Serbia taking place? Brazil vs Serbia will take place at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for Brazil vs Serbia? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Brazil vs Serbia
What channel is Brazil vs Serbia on in the UK? Brazil vs Serbia will be televised live on BBC
Where can I stream Brazil vs Serbia in the UK? Brazil vs Serbia can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app
THE LOWDOWN
BRAZIL
- Brazil begin the 2022 FIFA World Cup as tournament favourites and they will go in search of a record-extending sixth title but the pressure will be on having not won the Jules Rimet trophy since back in 2002.
- The Brazilians have not even made it to a final since that tournament in Japan and South Korea but with the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Junior available in attack, they have every chance of going all the way this time around.
SERBIA
- Serbia will have high hopes for a strong showing at the 2022 FWC but face the daunting prospect of opening their campaign with this tough matchup against Brazil.
- The Serbians are unlikely to fear their opponents with them arriving with no loss in six with five of those ending in them claiming the win but they have doubts over their all-time top-scorer Aleksander Mitrovic with the striker struggling to overcome an ankle injury to start this contest.
THE TEAM NEWS
BRAZIL
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Sandro; Fred, Casemiro; Neymar, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior; Richarlison
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Bruno Guimaraes (Injured), Alex Telles (Injured)
SERBIA
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): V. Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Gudelj, Kostic; Tadic, Vlahovic, S. Milinkovic-Savic
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Aleksander Mitrovic (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Brazil are the only team to have featured at every edition of the FIFA World Cup having maintained their ever-present record by qualifying for Qatar 2022, which is their 22nd participation
- Brazil have remarkably lost only one of their last 27 matches in a group stage at the FIFA World Cup and are currently unbeaten in 15 successive group games since a 2-1 defeat against Norway at France 1998
- Brazil have won more matches (73) and scored more goals (229) than any other nation in FIFA World Cup history
- Brazil have finished first in their group in the opening round at the FIFA World Cup in each of the last ten editions of the tournament
- Brazil have not lost their opening fixture in a FIFA World Cup final competition since a 3-1 defeat against Spain in the first round in 1934. Their opening match record since then is (W16 D3)
- Brazil have only failed to score in two of their last 33 matches in a group stage at the FIFA World Cup
- Brazil are unbeaten in their last 15 international matches (W12 D3). They have won each of their last seven international matches
- Ten players in Brazil’s squad have previous World Cup experience. Thiago Silva has the most experience, he is participating for the fourth time
- Brazil and Yugoslavia met at the very first World Cup final competition in 1930 in what was the debut match for both nations. The European side claimed a 2-1 victory on that occasion and eventually went on to reach the semi-finals
- Serbia are making back-to-back appearances at the FIFA World Cup, having also featured at Russia 2018
- Serbia have been eliminated at the group stage in each of their last three participations and are aiming to qualify for the knockout phase for the first time since 1998
- Serbia have recorded only two wins in their last three FIFA World Cup appearances (W2 L7), 1-0 victories against Germany in 2010 and Costa Rica in 2018
- Serbia claimed a 1-0 victory against IR Iran in their opening match in the group stage at Russia 2018, with Aleksandar Kolarov scoring the only goal of the encounter
- Serbia have failed to score in five of their last six World Cup matches against South American opposition
- 12 of Serbia’s squad have previous experience of a FIFA World Cup final competition
- Serbia have lost only two of their last 16 international matches (W12 D2)
THE PREDICTION
Pre-tournament favourites Brazil will get their campaign underway with the hope of ending a 20-year drought without winning the World Cup. They boast a plethora of attacking options and have some high-quality defensive players to back them up and they are certainly the team to beat in this tournament. Serbia are their first opponents and will fancy their chances of causing an upset with them arriving on a good run of form. They may not have enough to get the job done here but they can play their part in an entertaining game which should produce plenty of goals.
TIP: OVER 2.5 GOALS
