World Cup: Group G favourites Brazil tipped for sixth title

Brazil will arrive in Qatar marking an anniversary, although it is one that they would not want to be reminded of.

It has been 20 years since Brazil’s last World Cup triumph in Japan and South Korea. Since then, it has been agony after agony for the Selecao, especially with the 7-1 semi-final humiliation by Germany at the 2014 edition on home soil.

But this time around, there is a belief in the ranks of the five-time champions, who are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the coveted trophy in Qatar.

There is harmony and swagger to this Brazilian samba beat.

They head into the tournament as the world’s No. 1 team and for good reason — they have been in outstanding form.

Tite’s men have been unbeaten in 28 of their past 29 matches, dating back to 2019. The sole defeat was a 1-0 loss to archrivals Argentina in the Copa America final in July 2021.

In attack, such is the embarrassment of riches with the likes of Neymar, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus that Tite has been able to leave out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, while Real Madrid’s dynamic duo Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo are unlikely to make the starting XI.

Balance is the key word for Tite’s Brazil, who often set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. They collected 13 clean sheets in 17 qualifying games with an average of 2.4 goals scored per match, highlighting their strengths at both ends of the pitch.

But if they are to end their World Cup drought, Brazil must banish their European nightmare. Since their 2002 World Cup win, Brazil have come unstuck against European opposition in the knockout phase.

This time, however, while the likes of France, England and Germany will have to deal with injuries to key players, Brazil have a clean bill of health, with key players like Neymar and Vinicius in form. Their long wait for the sixth title could finally end on Dec 18.

Living up to the billing 

Perennial dark horses, Serbia have not yet lived up to that tag. In their last three World Cup appearances, they have limped out at the group stage.

But the attacking talent coach Dragan Stojkovic possesses in his ranks means that Serbia must fancy their chances of progressing from Group G.

Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Filip Kostic are all viewed as some of the most talented players in Europe and can give Serbia an edge.

The Serbs have improved quickly in a short period. They failed to qualify for Euro 2020 but went unbeaten en route to topping their World Cup qualifying group, finishing above Portugal.

Lining up in a 3-4-1-2, Serbia will lean on their Italian Serie A-based central midfield duo – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Sasa Lukic – to bring the creativity and physicality needed to overpower their opponents and force their way to the next round.

Swiss express set to roll on

Switzerland will take confidence from their last major tournament performance at Euro 2020. The surprise team of that tournament, they went into the European Championship having not won a knockout game at a major tournament since 1938.

But they exceeded expectations, rallying from a two-goal deficit to beat world champions France on penalties in the round of 16, before succumbing to Spain in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals.

But it is hard to pick many match winners from the Swiss side. In their most recent Nations League campaign, Switzerland netted only six goals in six matches, with two coming via set pieces.

Nevertheless, they always know how to find a way past the group stages, having reached the knockout rounds of the last two editions of the World Cup and Euro.

They will be sweating over the fitness of one of their most important players, goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The 33-year-old has made the squad but had missed his club Borussia Monchengladbach’s last five league matches due to an ankle injury.

Ending a barren spell 

The targets are modest for Cameroon – end a wretched run of losses on the world stage.

Cameroon’s streak of seven consecutive defeats at the World Cup dates back to a 2-0 loss to Germany in their final group match at the 2002 World Cup.

All their matches at the 2010 and 2014 editions ended in defeat. If they lose their opening two matches in Qatar, Cameroon will match the all-time record for most successive World Cup losses (nine) held by Mexico.

The Indomitable Lions will likely line up in a 4-3-3 led by Vincent Aboubakar in attack.

The 30-year-old lit up the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of 2022, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals. A similar performance in Qatar will put Cameroon in good stead.

Group G Fixtures
Switzerland v Cameroon (Nov 24, 6pm)
Brazil v Serbia (Nov 25, 3am)
Cameroon v Serbia (Nov 28, 6pm)
Brazil v Switzerland (Nov 28, 11.59pm)
Serbia v Switzerland (Dec 3, 3am)
Cameroon v Brazil (Dec 3, 3am)

TEAM FACT FILES
Brazil
Last World Cup: Quarter-finals
Best World Cup performance: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Fifa Ranking: 1st
Record in qualifying: 14 wins, 3 draws

The coach: Tite

After his predecessors’ failure to bring back the aura of dominance that the magical teams of Brazil once had, Tite has reinvigorated the national team.

Under the 61-year-old, Brazil won the 2019 Copa America, finished runners-up to Argentina in last year’s Copa and have qualified for Qatar 2022 in style, winning 14 and drawing three of their 17 qualifiers.

Tite has already announced that he will leave his role after the World Cup and winning the trophy in Qatar is the best ending that he can wish for.

The star: Neymar

At 30, Neymar is enjoying an impressive season for Paris Saint-Germain with 15 goals and 12 assists in 19 games for PSG this season. 

In recent times, Neymar has been criticised by his fellow countrymen, after he appeared in a campaign video endorsing Brazil’s far-right leader and former President Jair Bolsonaro. But that storm will be banished from Brazilians’ memories, if Neymar can lead them to the most coveted prize in world football.

Serbia
Last World Cup: Group stage
Best World Cup performance: Group stage (2010, 2018)
Fifa Ranking: 21st
Record in qualifying: 6 wins, 2 draws

The coach : Dragan Stojkovic

Appointed in March 2021, Stojkovic has achieved the highest win rate (65 per cent) of any coach of Serbia which includes the Serbia & Montenegro (1994-2006) and Yugoslavia (1930-2002) era. Under him, Serbia have racked up 13 wins, four draws and three losses.

Stojkovic has already earned the respect from Serbs as a player and he was even named in the Fifa World Cup All-Star Team at the 1990 edition. Qatar will be an opportunity for him to add to his reputation as a coach.

The star: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Following a prolific season in England’s second tier with 43 goals in 44 Championship games last season, the 28-year-old has brought his fine form to the Premier League with nine goals in 12 games for Fulham.

His record for his country is as impressive – a whopping 50 goals in 76 appearances. If he can get the services, he can deliver.

Luckily for Serbia, if Mitrovic is not quite firing on all cylinders, they do have Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic to pick up the slack.

Switzerland
Last World Cup: Round of 16
Best World Cup performance: Quarter-finals (1934,1938 and 1954)
Fifa Ranking: 15th
Record in qualifying: 5 wins, 3 draws

The coach: Murat Yakin

A former centre-back, Yakin made close to 50 appearances for Switzerland. As a coach, his main achievement remains guiding FC Basel to consecutive league titles in 2013 and 2014.

The reception to his appointment as Switzerland’s coach was initially lukewarm, but victories over Spain and Portugal in the Uefa Nations League have helped to convert some doubters into believers.

The star: Granit Xhaka

Once booed off the pitch by his own fans while playing for Arsenal, 2022 has seen Xhaka embark on a redemption arc.

Deployed in a more advanced midfield position these days, he is flourishing as a box-to-box midfielder and has been a key cog in Arsenal’s title-chasing side. He has also become an unlikely fan favourite at the Emirates.

His club form will be a confidence booster for the Switzerland captain who will be the chief architect and destroyer for his country from the middle of the park.

Cameroon
Last World Cup: Did not qualify
Best World Cup performance: Quarter-finals (1990)
Fifa Ranking: 43rd
Record in qualifying: 6 wins, 2 losses

The coach: Rigobert Song

The most capped player in Cameroonian football history with 137 appearances, the former Liverpool defender is an icon for his country.

He took up the Cameroon job in February 2022 after the country’s president ordered the national football federation to give the job to Song. But he has only been able to coach his side to one win in their last four matches.

The star: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

The Napoli central midfielder has been in fine form for his club who are perched at the top of the Italian Serie A and have progressed to the Champions League’s round of 16.

Central to that success has been Anguissa whose masterclass for Napoli played a part in humiliating Liverpool in Naples back in early September.

The box-to-box midfielder has a unique skill set that allows him to do all things in midfield, from winning the ball, rampaging forward and also creating from deep. Expect Cameroon’s play to go through him.