Group G
Switzerland v Cameroon
Time: 11am GMT
Location: Al Janoub Stadium
FIFA Rating: 15 vs 43
Switzerland and Cameroon will kick off Group-G on Thursday at Al Janoub Stadium. Each side know a loss may spell the top of the World Cup marketing campaign, as it’s unlikely both facet can get a consequence towards event favourite Brazil.
Switzerland comes into this event in imperious type, having knocked out heavyweight Italy throughout qualification. Switzerland had the most effective defensive information in the course of the qualifiers, conceding simply two objectives in eight matches. The Swiss are wanting to rewrite their file of unhealthy outings that has seen them fail to advance to the quarterfinals since 1954.
Switzerland is predicted to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Widmar, Akanji, Schar, and Rodriguez in protection. There are query marks round Switzerland’s goalkeeping place as a consequence of an harm to first-choice Yan Sommer that has seen him make only one look since October. His regular substitute Yvon Mvogo is out of the event with an harm.
Showing for the eighth time, Cameroon is raring to interrupt a run of seven consecutive World Cup match losses. Current type of only one win in 5 matches doesn’t encourage confidence. Nonetheless, the “Indomitable Lions” hope to construct on a third-place end on the final Africa Cup of Nations.
Rigobert Tune ought to arrange his staff in a 4-3-3 formation, with the trio of Ekambi, Mbuemo, and Choupo-Moting set to make up the entrance three. Napoli midfielder Zambo Anguissa is recovering from a knock, however he ought to get better in time to start out.
Prediction: 1 – 0
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Serbia v Brazil
Time: 8pm GMT
Location: Lusail Stadium
FIFA Rating: 21 vs 1
Within the final match of the day (after the Group-H matches), Serbia takes on world #1 Brazil in what may very well be the hardest group-stage match of the event (twenty first + 1st = twenty second, lower than every other match by half). Nonetheless, Serbia needn’t worry, boasting an enviable array of attacking expertise.
Serbia’s creativity revolves round talisman and captain Dusan Tadic. He’s the hyperlink from midfield to assault, so he shall be essential to unlocking the Selacao’s disciplined protection. There are, nonetheless, worries about in-form striker Alexandre Mitrovic whose match sharpness could have been dulled by an harm that compelled him to overlook Fulham’s final two video games earlier than the break. Will he be match sufficient to start out after a month on the sidelines?
Serbia ought to line up in a 3-4-3 formation, which turns into a 5-1-3 with out the ball.
Event favourite and soccer’s most profitable nation Brazil comes into the event in scorching type, having gained six straight video games in all competitions. The Selecao’s group-topping streak since 1982 makes Brazil the clear favourite to complete first in tough Group-G.
Neymar is the important thing in assault, possessing the trickery and imaginative and prescient to unlock opposition defenses. Brazil’s talisman has scored 75 objectives in simply 121 appearances for the Selecao. Regardless of stories of knocks for Alex Telles and Bruno Guimaraes, Tite is ought to have a full squad at his disposal for this conflict.
Tite ought to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Richarlison anticipated to start out forward of Gabriel Jesus upfront. Richarlison, with six objectives, was outscored solely by Neymar (8) throughout World Cup qualifiers. Whereas the fullback place is a bit unpredictable, former membership teammates Thiago Silva and Marquinhos are anticipated to start out within the heart of protection.
Prediction: 1 – 3
Group H
Uruguay v South Korea
Time: 2pm GMT
Location: Training Metropolis Stadium
FIFA Rating: 14 vs 28
Will Son be match sufficient to start out? A lot of the media discuss has been round whether or not South Korea will be capable of begin star man Son. Coach Paulo Bento has refused to let the cat out of the bag, however Son has been seen in coaching this week, carrying a protecting masks to cowl his fractured eye socket
Bento tends to arrange his staff in a flat 4-3-3 formation, with Yoon Jong-gyu partnering Kim Min-jae within the heart of protection. If Son is unavailable, assault will give attention to Wolves’ Hwang Hee-chan and Olympiacos’ Hwang Ui-jo, each of whom have struggled for objectives this season.
Uruguay is raring to start out the marketing campaign with a win, eager to advance from the group stage for the fourth consecutive World Cup. The Uruguayans boast an array of stars everywhere in the pitch that ought to be sufficient to see off South Korea and advance to the knockouts. They don’t wish to end second, as that staff from this group will probably face Brazil within the subsequent spherical 😮
Uruguay ought to begin in a 4-3-3 formation with Suarez, Pellistri, and Nunez occupying the attacking positions. Like South Korea, Uruguay has harm points, Araujo and Edinson Cavani each uncertain.
Prediction: 2 – 0
Portugal v Ghana
Time: 5pm GMT
Location: Stadium 974
FIFA Rating: 9 vs 61
Is it going to be the Ronaldo present? Ronaldo was on course final time these two nations met; a 2014 World Cup match that Portugal gained 2-1. This 12 months, Portugal comfortably noticed off Ghana’s West African neighbor Nigeria 4-nil of their solely warm-up match for the Qatar World Cup.
Whereas many latest headlines in regards to the Portugal staff have been about Ronaldo’s controversial interview with Piers Morgan and his quick departure from Man United, the Seleção das Quinas will search to redirect the main target to soccer by placing stamp on this match that can sign readiness to go all the best way. A win right here may also put Portugal in place to keep away from Brazil within the Spherical of 16.
The Black Stars of Ghana come into this match in spectacular type, having gained seven of their final eight matches. They might be additional buoyed by the truth that Portugal has didn’t win the opening match within the final three World Cups.
Regardless of fielding the youngest squad on the World Cup, Ghana has skilled fingers resembling Partey, Amartey, and the Ayew brothers, who will all present management on the sector. Ghana has didn’t advance previous the group stage solely as soon as in three World Cup campaigns.
Each groups line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Rafeal Leao and Bernado Silva offering help for Ronaldo up prime for Portugal whereas Jordan Ayew and Kudus do the identical for Williams of Ghana.
Prediction: 3 – 1
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