World Cup Preview | Group G | Favourites Brazil hopeful of a sixth World Cup title

The 2022 World Cup kicks off this Sunday with Qatar and Ecuador getting the tournament underway.

For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will take place midseason in relation to Europe’s top five Leagues with 32 teams setting their sights on Qatar.

The nature of timing ensures a number of players will miss out while the Republic Of Ireland also failed to qualify.

But with the World Cup approaching, we’ll be taking a deep dive into the nations competing, group by group.

Today we look ahead to Group G, which contains Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.

Brazil

Manager – Tite

Best WC Finish – Winners (5 seasons)

2018 WC Finish – Quarter-Finals

FIFA World Ranking – 1st

Tournament Odds – 7/2

The most decorated side in FIFA World Cup history, Brazil are determined to extend their tally to six titles this season.

A Selecao will begin the tournament as the #1 ranked side in the world at the moment and have been priced as narrow favourites to go all the way this year – and with good reasoning.

Their last outing in the tournament was unsuccessful to say the least. A quarter-final exit against Belgium was the outcome for the five-time World Champions despite scoring seven goals and conceding just one ahead of their tie with the Red Devils. The side would’ve been tipped to go further than they did in 2018 and they’ll be hoping to avoid any déjà vu this year.

Tite’s men made a mockery of the qualification process, going unbeaten in seventeen games to pip Argentina to the top spot, the side are tipped to go the distance alongside Brazil.

And it’s evident as to why the South American’s have been placed in such high regard ahead of the tournament. Superstars such as Neymar Jr., Vinicius Jr., Gabriel Jesus and Casemiro will be donning the famous yellow and blue alongside other household names in modern football. There was also a place for 39-year-old Dani Alves, who was a surprise selection for the side.

Flair, passion and beautiful football will be on display when Brazil take centre stage and they will be poised to make it far this year.

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Serbia

Manager – Dragan Stojkovic

Best WC Finish – Group Stage (2010, 2018)

2018 WC Finish – Group Stage

FIFA World Ranking – 21st

Tournament Odds – 90/1

Many have been backing Serbia as the tournament’s dark horses this year.

They’ve only made a couple of appearances at the World Cup solely as Serbia, coming in 2010 and 2018 with both campaigns having the same outcome – one win from their three games in the group stage which resulted in an early exit for the European nation.

Failure to qualify for the European Championships in 2020 would’ve also been a tough pill to swallow for Dragan Stojkovic’s side as they were the victims of a penalty shootout loss against Scotland in the qualifying final.

However, an unbeaten World Cup qualification run in a group which contained the Republic of Ireland has breathed new life into the side as they look to continue in the same run of form. A Matchday 10 win against Portugal was the pick of the bunch as they sealed an impressive campaign whilst catching the eyes of fans around the world.

Players such as Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Dusan Tadic and Filip Kositc will be making noise throughout the campaign as they look to guide the Serbs to their first World Cup knockout stage.

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Switzerland

Manager – Murat Yakin

Best WC Finish – Quarter-Final (Three seasons)

2018 WC Finish – Last 16

FIFA World Ranking – 15th

Tournament Odds – 90/1

Three of the aforementioned teams all competed in the same group in 2018, with Switzerland and Brazil being the two to progress at Serbia’s expense.

An Emil Forsberg goal for Sweden was enough to send the Swiss home in the last 16 that year as they failed to make it to their fourth quarter-final since their first appearance in 1934.

A relatively successful Euro 2020 campaign followed, with an unforgettable last 16 victory over World Champions France the highlight of their tournament. The Swiss showed grit and determination to come back from 3-1 down and bring the match to penalties where Kylian Mbappe would famously miss his spot-kick to send Switzerland through.

The side are led by Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who’s been on incredible form so far this season. Other players to keep an eye out for include striker Breel Embolo, central midfielder Denis Zakaria and former Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri who loves an international major tournament.

The Swiss have the tools to qualify from their group yet again but points against their group members won’t be an easy feat.

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Cameroon

Manager – Rigobert Song

Best WC Finish – Quarter-Finals (1990)

2018 WC Finish – N/A

FIFA World Ranking – 43rd

Tournament Odds – 300/1

The outliers of their group in terms of tournament odds, Cameroon face a difficult return to the tournament since their omission in 2018.

The African side will be competing in their 8^th World Cup tournament which is the most appearances for any African side.

Although, they are yet to make the most of the impressive feat with three quarter-final losses being the height of their achievements. A white-wash in the group stages of the 2014 edition was their lowest point at the tournament as they returned from Brazil with zero points to their name.

They have, however, been on impressive form as of late, with a third-place finish in the African Cup of Nations followed up by an aggregate win over Algeria in the qualification final to send them to Qatar.

They boast a handful of recognisable names, with Bayern Munich striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting’s name jumping off the team-sheet as he looks to bring his impressive club form to Qatar.

Cameroon must beat the odds if they’re to progress from Group G, but they won’t lie down for the other three sides in the group.