Brazil vs Serbia preview & prediction

Match preview

Brazil, widely regarded as the favorites to win the World Cup in 2022, kicks off its Group G campaign against Serbia on Thursday at the Lusail Stadium.

The two countries will renew acquaintances after meeting in the group stage four years ago, with the Selecao coming out on top with a 2-0 victory.

Brazil arrived in Qatar as the only country in World Cup history to have qualified for every tournament since the first edition in 1930, thanks to a record-breaking CONMEBOL qualification campaign in which they collected 45 points after winning 14 and drawing three of their 17 matches.

The Selecao has rarely struggled in qualifying, and they have had few problems in the group stage as well, going unbeaten in their last 15 World Cup group games since losing 2-1 to Norway in 1998.

After failing to advance past the group stage in their previous three World Cup finals since gaining independence in 1990, there is hope that Serbia will make it to the knockout rounds for the first time in Qatar.

The Eagles, ranked 25th in the world by FIFA, dominated UEFA qualifying, winning six and drawing two of their eight matches, including a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Portugal in their final match.

Stojkovic and co’s form on European soil has been impressive, but transferring that to the global stage is the task at hand, and they could not begin their World Cup campaign against a more daunting opponent than five-time world champions Brazil.

Brazil vs Serbia Head to Head

27/06/18WC2	Serbia	0 – 2	Brazil
06/06/14IM	Brazil	1 – 0	Serbia

Brazil vs Serbia form guide

Brazil’s last 5 games – WWWW

Brazil	5 – 1	Tunisia
Brazil	3 – 0	Ghana
Japan	0 – 1	Brazil
South Korea	1 – 5	Brazil

Serbia’s last 5 games – WDWWW

Bahrain	1 – 5	Serbia
Norway	0 – 2	Serbia
Serbia	4 – 1	Sweden
Slovenia	2 – 2	Serbia
Sweden	0 – 1	Serbia

Key stats

Brazil have a flawless record against Serbia and have won both their previous matches against their European opponents.
The previous meeting between the two teams took place in the group stage in the 2018 World Cup and ended in a comfortable 2-0 victory for Brazil.
Brazil are making their 22nd appearance in the FIFA World Cup and are the only team to have qualified for every edition of the tournament.
Brazil are unbeaten in their last 15 group games at the FIFA World Cup and have managed to win 12 of these matches.
Brazil have won five World Cup trophies and have also won a record 73 matches so far in the history of the competition.
Serbia have now qualified for four of the last five editions of the FIFA World Cup, with their only failure during this period coming in 2014.

Brazil vs Serbia prediction

After watching South American rivals Argentina suffer a shock defeat in their first group game, Brazil cannot assume that Thursday’s match against Serbia will be easy, and they must be at their best if they are to make the perfect start in Group G. Hence we go with the following pickings in this fixture: