The first round of 2022 World Cup matches includes some exciting fixtures and these Brazil vs. Serbia predictions catch the eye in Group G. Tite’s side face Serbia in Lusail a few hours after the group is kicked off between Switzerland and Cameroon.
Brazil vs. Serbia odds
1 – Brazil to win – 19/40
2 – Brazil over 1.5 total goals – 14/5
3 – Total goals scored over 2.5 – 4.5
4 – Both teams not to score – 20/23
5 – Brazil to win 3-0 – 10/1
Brazil are the favourites to go on and win the World Cup in Qatar and extend their success in the competition to six titles.
Tite’s side stormed through qualifying in CONEMBOL, finishing in top spot ahead of arch rivals Argentina, with 45 points from 17 games.
Brazil survived the entire qualification campaign without losing and their last defeat came in the 2021 Copa America final against Argentina over 14 months ago.
That form justifiably puts them as a strong option to start the tournament with a win, up against a Serbia side that qualified directly ahead of Portugal but face a real battle to reach the last 16 in Qatar.
Within their run to the finals, Brazil’s goal scoring exploits have continued to impress, with 26 goals scored in their seven games in 2022 – and they have not failed to score in over a year.
In their 2022 outings, Brazil have netted over 1.5 goals inside 90 minutes of action in five of the seven games played, with those five matches also ending with over 2.5 total goals scored by both sides.
Serbia’s goal return has been good in 2022 too, and they will be confident of battling for a knockout spot from Group G. But Brazil’s record of five clean sheets, with just two goals conceded in 2022, makes it difficult to see a breakthrough in this tie.
Brazil will be under pressure to match expectations in Qatar, following their last eight exit in Russia four years ago. But an opening win would set them up to ease out of the group and into the next round in the Middle East.
How to stream Brazil vs. Serbia
You can watch Brazil vs. Serbia live on Thursday night on national broadcasters or on online.
Brazil vs. Serbia last five matches
Brazil last five matches
Bolivia 0-4 Brazil
South Korea 1-5 Brazil
Japan 0-1 Brazil
Brazil 3-0 Ghana
Brazil 5-1 Tunisia
Serbia last five matches
Sweden 0-1 Serbia
Slovenia 2-2 Serbia
Serbia 4-1 Sweden
Norway 0-2 Serbia
Bahrain 1-5 Serbia
Brazil top World Cup qualification goalscorers
Neymar – 8
Richarlison – 6
Roberto Firmino – 3
Philippe Coutinho – 3
Lucas Paqueta – 3
Serbia top World Cup qualification goalscorers
Aleksandar Mitrovic – 8
Dusan Vlahovic – 4
Filip Kostic – 1
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic -1
Nikola Milenkovic – 1
Brazil vs. Serbia line-ups
Brazil (4-3-3) Alisson; Sandro, Militao, Silva, Danilo; Casemiro, Paqueta, Fred; Richarlison, Neymar, Raphinha
Serbia (3-4-3): Dmitrovic; Pavlovic, Milenkovic, S. Mitrovic; Kostic, Milinkovic-Savic, Gudelj, Lukic; Vlahovic, Mitrovic, Tadic
Brazil team news
Tite switched between systems during qualification and his decision not to call up Roberto Firmino opens the door for changes. Thiago Silva will anchor the defence with Casemiro, Neymar and Lucas Paqueta also likely to start in their opening game.
Serbia team news
Serbia head coach Dragan Stojković stuck with a solid core of players during the road to Qatar and he is boosted by the majority of his key stars joining the squad. Highly rated defender Strahinja Pavlovic will be the one to watch in defence, with a strong attack featuring Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Dusan Tadic.