Record winners Brazil aims for a sixth World Cup title in Qatar with a talented group of superstars but faces a stern test in Serbia for their group opener.
Tite’s men had another disappointing tournament last time out with a 2-1 loss to Belgium eliminating them from the quarterfinals while Serbia did not even manage to get into knockouts.
BRA vs SER Match Details
Date: Thursday, 24 November 2022/ Friday, 25 November 2022
Time: 22:00 (AST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Lusail Stadium, Lusail
BRA vs SER Match Preview
Another World Cup is another expectation for Brazil to win the trophy they became so synonymous with since its creation. Coach Tite will be managing the Selecao in his second World Cup but with a more talented squad than the one in the 2018 edition. It has been a gallant preparation for the 2022 World Cup for Brazil arriving in Qatar on the back of an unbeaten qualifying season and losing only one game in two years. However, it was jolly before the last tournament as well but then they fail in the quarterfinals where a shock loss to Belgium did little to suppress the humiliation in 2014. There could be no excuse for this Brazil squad to halt at the crucial stages, being the favorites of the tournament. Moving into the final of the competition should be the objective but this World Cup has brought in a lot of shocks to be feared. Such will be the motive of an excellent attacking unit of Serbia when they face them in the group opener. Brazil does carry an excellent balance in the team with a robust defense, phenomenal attack and incredible depth boasting a 15-game unbeaten run. In this period, they have scored 26 goals and conceded only twice. Still, with rivals Argentina losing their opener against Saudi Arabia carrying similar qualities, Tite’s men should take a more professional approach on Thursday. The Selecao faced Serbia in the 2018 World Cup as well where they won 2-0. Something similar here against a more strengthened opposition this time will set the tone for the side.
Serbia have been blessed with an excellent attacking trident of Dusan Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic but Dragan Stojkovic might not have the latter in the opener because of a foot injury. Star wing-back Filip Kostic could also miss out. But talking about the tournament as a whole, this team is more than capable to escape this group containing Switzerland and Cameroon as other members alongside Brazil. As an independent nation, Serbia have never made it to the knockouts with underwhelming group-stage finishes in the last two editions. There is an aura around the team now to change that. The Eagles had an excellent qualifying campaign in which they pipped Portugal for the automatic spot, followed by a promotion to League A in the Nations League beating the likes of Norway and Sweden for it. Since taking charge last year, Dragan Stojkovic has done a tremendous job and will call himself lucky to probably have the best squad in the nation’s tournament history. Now, Serbia have to translate their excellent form with only two losses in the last 16 matches to the group stages of the 2022 World Cup. With familiar foes in Brazil this time as well revenge will be on the cards. However, Dragan Stojkovic will stress more on the solidity in the match to nullify the immense attack of the Selecao. Getting a point out of this pivotal match will be crucial if a victory looks far off. It will be a great way to start their campaign in Qatar.
Recent Form
BRA: WWWWW
SER: WWWDW
BRA vs SER Team News
Vinicius Jr has recently join the training so he is unlikely to get involved from the start in this opener. Neymar will take his place on the left keeping Richarlison up top. Tite is most likely to go with a 4-2-3-1 formation so Casemiro and Fred will be drafted in midfield to enhance solidity to the side while the four attackers focus on their job. It also means Lucas Paqueta will drop in the number ten role to link-up play. Richarlison have only scored two goals for his club Tottenham Hotspurs since joining them in the summer. However, he has netted in five of the last six matches with the national team and so his selection is undisputed.
Also Read | Brazil 2022 FIFA World Cup Squad and Team Profile and Serbia’s Squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 & Team Profile
For Serbia, Dragan Stojkovic is having a head-scratcher with two influential players of the side, Filip Kostic and Aleksandar Mitrovic are cast as major doubts for the game. Mitrovic has returned to training without the pain of his broken foot injury while Kostic is struggling with some muscle issues. The striker has been in sensational form for Fulham over two seasons and has also scored six goals in four previous matches for Serbia. Same goes with the Juventus wing-back showering assist for his work down the left flank. If they failed to get fit for the game, Serbia then have to rely on the brilliance of Dusan Tadic and Dusan Vlahovic to have a say against mighty Brazil.
BRA vs SER Predicted Lineups
BRA: Alisson Becker; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Fred; Raphinha, Paqueta, Neymar; Richarlison
SER: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Nikola Milenkovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Sasa Lukic, Milan Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Mladenovic; Dusan Tadic; Dusan Vlahovic
Also Read | FIFA World Cup 2022: Serbia - World Cup Records and Stats and FIFA World Cup 2022: Brazil - World Cup Records and Stats
BRA vs SER Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Alisson (8)
DEF: Milenkovic (8), S Mitrovic (7.5), T Silva (8), Marquinhos (8.5)
MID: Raphinha (8.5), Paqueta (8), Neymar (9)
FW: Tadic (8.5), Richarlison (7.5), Vlahovic (9)
Vice-captain: Richarlison
Captain: Neymar
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