World Cup preview: Everything you need to know about Group G?With the 2022 World Cup just days away, we're taking a deep dive into all eight groups, highlighting the star players to watch, examining the biggest storylines to follow, and offering up some predictions for how things may play out. Here's everything you need to know about Group G, which features Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, and Cameroon.
Group schedule ?
Brazil ??
- Manager: Tite
- Nickname: Selecao
- FIFA ranking: 1
- Best World Cup finish: Five-time champion (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
- Betting odds: +400
Neymar. This is arguably the best pre-World Cup version of Neymar we've seen. In 2014, he was a 22-year-old playing his first World Cup. Four years later, a foot injury sidelined him until weeks before the Selecao's debut in the tournament and he didn't perform at his best. This year, though, the 30-year-old's been incredible. Not only does he look like a better leader on and off the field, but he's played at an extremely high level at Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar would elevate his legacy if he guides Brazil to a sixth World Cup trophy. The superstar is also only two goals shy of Pele's record of 77 goals with the Selecao.
Projected starting XI (4-3-3)
Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Fred, Paqueta; Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Raphinha
Tite has a lot of options. The lineup above, with Neymar playing as a false nine, has more talent and speed up front. But against a very physical Serbia team, for instance, it'd make sense to start Richarlison. The problem: who comes out? As shocking as it may sound, the likely answer is Vinicius. Raphinha is established as Brazil's right-winger, and due to Danilo's limited role in the attack, Tite probably won't make big changes on that side of the pitch early. But there's another option that the manager tested - a 4-2-4 with Neymar playing as a No. 10 and Vinicius, Raphinha, and Richarlison - coming in for Fred - lining up together. Lucas Paqueta, known for his versatility, would then play closer to the backline.
Key question
Are the Selecao mentally and emotionally ready? Unlike most teams, Brazil's roster doesn't have glaring holes. Yes, we could nitpick and say the right- and left-back positions aren't world-class - especially the right side with Danilo and 39-year-old Dani Alves - but that being the main issue tells everything you need to know about how stacked this squad is. Will that guarantee Brazil's triumph? Of course not.
The Brazilians are under a lot of pressure after losing to Argentina at home in the 2021 Copa America final and Belgium in the quarterfinals at the 2018 World Cup. Plus, important players on the current roster were also part of the team that was embarrassed by Germany at home in 2014. And let's not forget that, despite having all the individual talent it takes, the Selecao haven't won the World Cup since 2002. The legacy of veterans like Neymar, Thiago Silva, and Dani Alves with the national team is against the wall, and there's enormous pressure that comes with being a cornerstone of a generation that's suffered heartbreaking losses while representing a country used to winning.
Serbia ??
- Manager: Dragan "Piksi" Stojkovic
- Nickname: Оrlovi
- FIFA ranking: 21
- Best World Cup finish: Fourth place (1930, 1962)
- Betting odds: +10000
Dusan Vlahovic. A Serbian striker who wreaks havoc on opposing defenses and is a major threat in the box. No, we're not talking about Aleksandar Mitrovic, Serbia's all-time top scorer who racked up 43 goals in 44 appearances in the EFL Championship last season. Juventus star Vlahovic is one of the world's most promising and complete strikers and could cement himself as a world-class superstar. The 22-year-old, who scored more than 20 goals in the last two Serie A campaigns, is nursing a groin injury, but Stojkovic still expects him to be a key contributor in Qatar.
Projected starting XI (3-5-2)
V. Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, S. Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Kostic, Tadic; A. Mitrovic, Vlahovic
The biggest question here might be with the goalkeeping department, as Stojkovic used six different 'keepers in his 20 matches in charge. Predrag Rajkovic could get a chance to start over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Other than that, expect Serbia to line up with two strikers and a backline featuring three defenders. Though Vlahovic and Mitrovic form a scary duo, there isn't much depth behind them, which could be an issue given their injury concerns lately. Defensively, the Serbians aren't as solid, so we'll likely see them in a 5-3-2 when the opponents have the ball.
Key question
Can Stojkovic fix Serbia's defensive vulnerabilities? Scoring goals isn't the problem - stopping the opponents from scoring is. Serbia gave up nine goals in eight World Cup qualifiers, and across 14 qualifying games and Nations League matches, the team had only three clean sheets.
Stojkovic has been using a back three since taking over in 2021 - a switch from a formation with four defenders before his arrival - but the unit has yet to find its best form. Stefan Mitrovic and Strahinja Erakovic are potential options if the Serbians need to make a change in their back three. But the main focus here should be the midfielders. They'll really need to step up in delivering their defensive responsibilities, especially against tougher opponents. When the Serbians don't have possession, expect their versatile wingers to drop to make a back five.
Switzerland ??
- Manager: Murat Yakin
- Nickname: La Nati
- FIFA ranking: 15
- Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)
- Betting odds: +8000
Granit Xhaka. The 30-year-old heads to his third World Cup in the best form of his career and with over 100 international caps under his belt. The Arsenal star is the heart and soul of this team. He's crucial to Switzerland's ability to move the ball from its defensive end to the final third of the pitch, and La Nati will need him to step up again as they look to reach the round of 16 for a third straight World Cup. In 2018, Xhaka's spectacular goal against Serbia in the group stage sparked a brilliant comeback that gave Switzerland a crucial three points.
Projected starting XI (4-5-1)
Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Shaqiri, Sow, Okafor; Embolo
La Nati travel to Qatar with important questions regarding their goalkeepers. First-choice Yann Sommer, who's logged 76 appearances with the national team, and backup Jonas Omlin are dealing with injuries. Though the 33-year-old Sommer said he'll be good to go, Yakin included four goalkeepers in his 26-man squad. Gregor Kobel, who's stood out at Borussia Dortmund, would likely start if Sommer is unavailable. Up front, speedy winger Ruben Vargas and 30-year-old striker Haris Seferovic could slide into the lineup.
Key question
Will the No. 9 role be an issue? With a defensive system that allowed only two goals during the World Cup qualifiers, the lack of a No. 9 who can be a commanding presence in the box might be La Nati's biggest issue in Qatar. Breel Embolo has been superb since joining AS Monaco in July and is Switzerland's main attacker. But the 25-year-old, who's a winger-turned-striker, is more known for his physical skills, not his clinical finishing.
Another option is Seferovic. Ahead of his third World Cup, he's one of the most experienced players on the roster but hasn't done much at Galatasaray this season. Finally, let's not sleep on Noah Okafor, who's shown a lot of potential at Red Bull Salzburg. Asking a 22-year-old with no World Cup experience to solve Switzerland's issues up front might be too much, but Okafor is a legit threat both as a striker and winger.
Cameroon ??
- Manager: Rigobert Song
- Nickname: Indomitable Lions
- FIFA ranking: 43
- Best World Cup finish: Quarterfinals (1990)
- Betting odds: +25000
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Not only is he one of Cameroon's most important players, but Zambo Anguissa is also one of the most exciting in the whole tournament. He's a box-to-box midfielder who excels in transition while offering solid support to the backline. The 26-year-old's put on an absolute show at Napoli this season, and now Cameroon will need a similar contribution from its star to have any chance of defying the odds in Qatar.
Projected starting XI (4-3-3)
Onana; Fai, Castelletto, Nkoulou, Nouhou; Zambo Anguissa, Hongla, Ntcham; Toko Ekambi, Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting
This is a top-heavy lineup that plays physical and fast and has interesting rotational options in Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, and especially Bryan Mbeumo, a former France Under-21 international who recently switched allegiances. The 23-year-old Brentford winger offers depth and Premier League experience to Song's side. The Indomitable Lions don't have as much depth among their defenders, though their decent back four boasts experience and energy.
Key question
Did Song have enough time? International head coaches need time to succeed since they can't train their players as often as club managers can. Song replaced Toni Conceicao, who was in charge since 2019, this past February. Will nine months of work be enough for Song, a respected former captain who doesn't have much managerial experience, to prepare his team? While he did help Cameroon beat Algeria to qualify, let's not forget: The Indomitable Lions only advanced after Karl Toko Ekambi's dramatic last-minute goal. The challenges will be much harder in Qatar.
Cameroon has won only one World Cup match since its outstanding run to the quarterfinal in 1990. But it won't be easy for the Indomitable Lions, who didn't qualify for the 2018 tournament, to get back into the win column in 2022. Song's squad still has holes and doesn't have as much star power as its Group G competitors.
Predictions ?
Brazil, Switzerland, and Serbia were also in the same group at the 2018 World Cup, and all the matches among them were relatively close, with Switzerland even stealing a point with a draw against Brazil. The Selecao won the group in 2018 and should be able to do it again now. Opta gives Brazil a 67.6% chance of topping Group G. Serbia and Switzerland are expected to fight for second place, which makes their clash in Game 3 a must-watch. Switzerland edged Serbia 2-1 in 2018 en route to reaching the knockout stage. La Nati might still be the more well-rounded team, but the Serbians have more talent and potential up front now.- Brazil
- Serbia
- Switzerland
- Cameroon
