Who: Brazil vs Serbia, Group G
The place: Lusail Stadium
When: Thursday, 10pm (19:00 GMT)
FIFA rating: Brazil (1), Serbia (21)
Brazil and Serbia meet within the group phases of the World Cup for the second successive version. Loads has modified for each groups since their conflict in Moscow 4 years in the past.
The evolution of Brazil’s squad is greatest evidenced by the truth that the opening purpose of their 2-0 win over Serbia in 2018 was scored by Paulinho — who has not performed for the nationwide staff within the final 4 years. Brazil’s midfield was run ragged by Belgium within the quarterfinal that yr and the way by which they had been uncovered saved supervisor Tite up at night time.
Their midfield going into the present World Cup has been considerably shored up. In Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paquetá – all of whom can be making their World Cup debuts in Qatar – Tite has discovered the proper steadiness in the course of the park.
Brazil was a staff in transition in 2018, missing a transparent id. The shadow of their humiliation within the 2014 World Cup they hosted – once they had been thrashed 7-1 in entrance of their followers by Germany within the semi-finals – nonetheless hung over the staff and the nation as an entire.
However, this time, there’s a tangible enthusiasm across the squad of the perennial favourites that largely has to do with the attacking expertise at their disposal.
Neymar is taking part in arguably his greatest soccer at Paris Saint-Germain. Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have been key to Arsenal’s resurgence this season. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo are contemporary off successful the Champions League with Actual Madrid. Add to this Raphinha, Antony and Richarlison and it is a ahead line made up of fireplace and aptitude in equal elements.
🗣️ “After I heard my title I couldn’t even discuss, I cried for one hour. I used to be so blissful, buzzing.”
Gabriel Martinelli says he cried for an hour after discovering out that he was included within the Brazil squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 🇧🇷
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) November 12, 2022
The Seleção went unbeaten of their World Cup qualifiers, scoring 45 objectives and conceding simply 5.
Like Brazil, Serbia too have undergone change because the final World Cup. The 2018 match in Russia was solely their second-ever look within the World Cup. The squad was strewn with veterans evidently previous their prime and children missing the expertise of taking part in on such a world stage. Unsurprisingly, they crashed out within the group phases.
However the present aspect appears to be like higher geared up to deal with the pressures of huge match soccer. The outdated guard of Branislav Ivanović, Nemanja Matić and Aleksandar Kolarov have retired and the youthful gamers who had been part of the 2018 squad have taken huge strides of their improvement.
Aleksandar Mitrović broke the report for probably the most objectives scored in an English season final yr. He’s at the moment one of the vital feared strikers within the English Premier League. Filip Kostić performed a starring function in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League triumph final season and sealed a switch to Juventus.
Lazio’s Sergej Milinković-Savić has persistently been probably the greatest midfielders within the Serie A. Serbian captain Dušan Tadić moved to Ajax after the 2018 World Cup and was a key member of their run to the Champions League semi-final in 2019. The emergence of striker Dušan Vlahović – studies counsel Actual Madrid and Manchester United are amongst these eyeing him – furthers the efficiency of this Serbian assault.
Serbia topped their World Cup qualification group forward of Portugal, scoring an outstanding 18 objectives throughout eight video games.
Serbia and Brazil lean closely on their assaults and possess chinks of their backlines. Serbia have saved simply three clear sheets of their final 14 official video games. In the meantime Brazil’s squad is missing within the wing-back positions: Danilo, Alex Telles, Alex Sandro and Dani Alves don’t encourage confidence. Their attack-minded nature might be exploited by Serbia’s pacy wingers.
Brazil enter the World Cup in stellar kind and are but to lose a recreation because the Copa America ultimate loss to Argentina final yr. They’ve scored a staggering 18 objectives of their final 5 video games. Serbia has received 4 of its final 5 video games, scoring 14 objectives in them.
All of which factors to at least one factor: On Thursday, anticipate a high-scoring affair.