Brazil vs Serbia, FIFA World Cup 2022, Today Match Prediction

Brazil vs Serbia Match Prediction & Analysis

It feels like the World Cup has finally started when Brazil play their first game. 

For a variety of reasons, the Selecao are many fans favourite second team, with Brazil showcasing some of the best sporting moments we’ve seen over the decades, not to mention their famous players too.

They are arguably the favourites to win this World Cup – not only are they top of the FIFA world rankings, but enter this tournament in fantastic shape. 

It is 20 years since they last lifted the World Cup. Can they return to the top of the pile here?

For Serbia, all their efforts must be focused on progressing from the Group Stage. 

This game against Brazil will be a marker of how solid they are, but games against Switzerland and Cameroon will be more important in terms of their likelihood of getting anything from them.

There are one or two top players sprinkled among their squad, although it’s chalk and cheese when comparing it to the embarrassment of riches that Brazil have to offer.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Brazil Preview

FIFA Ranking: 1

Predicted Finish: Winners

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Scored 40 goals and conceded only five in World Cup qualifying

     The likes of Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Gabriel Jesus and co. can terrorise any team

Reasons to be fearful:

     The pressure for Brazil to succeed is always immense

     Haven’t faced European opposition since 2019

Brazil have forever been known as the Great Entertainers, the team that is so beautiful to watch, they almost dance the ball into the back of their opponent’s net.

That isn’t always true, of course, and for 20 years and four World Cups, they have fallen short of the huge expectations placed on their shoulders. 

While they have always had star names, they haven’t always had a team solid enough to prevent other teams from scoring – anyone remember their 7-1 humiliation against Germany in the 2014 Semi Finals?

Now, things are different. 

Neymar has matured and has Pele’s goalscoring record in his sights. There is a supporting cast upfront worthy of any starting XI. In Thiago Silva and Marquinhos they have two fine defenders with Alisson rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the world behind them.

They’ll need to overcome some incredible opponents along the way – certainly better than Serbia – but the feeling is that this can be their year.

Star Man – Neymar

The Brazilian superstar only needs two more goals in the famous yellow shirt to equal Pele’s all-time goalscoring record for the Selecao. He’ll be targeting that, and a lot more, at this World Cup.

Serbia Preview

FIFA Ranking: 21

Predicted Finish: Group Stage

Reasons to be cheerful

     Strikers bring excellent goalscoring form from their clubs

     Fantastic record in qualifying saw them beat Portugal to top spot

Reasons to be fearful

     Have never made it past the Group Stage 

     Lost 2-0 to Brazil in the 2018 World Cup 

Serbia has a complicated history at the World Cup, not least due to its own political past. 

Until 2002, the country was part of Yugoslavia and competed in the World Cup under that name, before breaking off and forming Serbia and Montenegro.

Having once more separated to form Serbia, they will be hoping to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time under this guise.

They have some frightening firepower upfront, too. In Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic, they have a pair of strikers that can rile up any defence. 

Mitrovic is a fitness concern coming into this one, though, and would be a miss having finished as top scorer in their qualifying group.

Elsewhere, captain Dusan Tadic has experience at club level across Europe, Milinkovic-Savic is one of the most highly rated central midfielders on the continent and their defenders all have impressive pedigree.

Can they best Brazil, however?

Star Man – Aleksandar Mitrovic

Mitrovic may not be fit for this one, but if he is, he will add serious firepower. His eight goals in qualifying was the best in Serbia’s group and he has scored nine goals in 12 games for Fulham this season.