The 2022 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching and we are bringing you a preview of every group ahead of the tournament, offering an insight into each team, as well as predictions as to who will progress to the knockout rounds. Below, we preview Group G that contains five-time winners Brazil, 1954 hosts Switzerland, Dusan Vlahovic’s Serbia and 1990 quarter-finalists Cameroon.
The Teams:
Brazil
Switzerland
Serbia
Cameroon
Group G Preview
Brazil are one of the regular behemoths of the World Cup and they’re placed in Group G for Qatar and, as always, they’re one of the favorites to go all the way and win the tournament. After a disappointing exit in the quarter-finals at the last World Cup in 2018 at the hands of Belgium, head coach Tite will be desperate to go further this winter.
Having won the competition a record number of five times, Brazil will be looking to add a sixth to their trophy cabinet. They last won the World Cup in 2002, when the competition was hosted by South Korea and Japan, but they have not managed to reach the final in any of the last four editions. Well-established stars such as Neymar, Thiago Silva and Casemiro will be itching for a World Cup winners medal to put them up amongst the greats such as Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho.
Switzerland and Serbia also occupy Group G and the two European sides will most likely be battling it out for the second qualifying spot, with Cameron the least likely to make it to the knockouts. The Swiss will be looking to go one better than the round of 16; they were knocked out of the both the last two World Cups at that stage.
Cameroon finalise the group and make their return after failing to qualify for Russia 2018. Their best-ever finish at a World Cup was in 1990, when they were quarter-finalists, but in all five tournaments that they have played at since, they have failed to make it to the last 16. Head coach Rigobert Song will be dreaming of a fairytale winter in Qatar.
The Brazilian Premier League
12 of Brazil’s World Cup 2022 squad currently play in the English Premier League – almost half of their entire squad. There’s certainly been a Brazilian take over in England’s top flight and they’re about to show everyone on the world stage what they can do. From the likes of Alisson, Thiago Silva, Casemiro, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus, it will be interesting to see if Tite can get his elite set of players on the same page and firing.
That’s also not to forget the huge array of Brazilian talent outside of England too, such as the likes of Neymar, Raphinha and Vinicius Junior, who will also be setting Qatar a light with their joga bonito style of play. Tite undoubtedly has some huge decisions to make ahead of their tournament opener against Serbia on November 24 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Brazil's team World Cup 2022 is scary as hell:
◾️ Neymar (PSG)
◾️ Vini Jr (Real Madrid)
◾️ Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
◾️ Richarlison (Tottenham)
◾️ Antony (Man United)
◾️ Raphinha (Barcelona)
◾️ Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
◾️ Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)This attack is just insane! ?? pic.twitter.com/JZqfNKeS7l
— JOHN GASIRABO ?? ?? ?? (@GasiraboJohn) November 9, 2022
Serbian Stars
Serbia will be looking to get over their hoodoo of getting past the group stage, a feat that they have failed to reach in any of their last three World Cup outings. The Eagles are certainly not short on stars either, however, and they have a number of players that play across Europe’s top five leagues, with the likes of Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic and Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, just to name a few. Group G is certainly star-studded that could take some interesting turns.
Swiss Killers
Switzerland have performed strongly in major tournaments since 2014, at least booking a place in the last 16 at all four of their last World Cup and European Championship appearances. Euro 2020 also saw them advance into the quarter-finals after defeating world champions France in the round of 16, getting the better of Didier Deschamps’ side on penalties. The Rossocrociati also put up a strong effort against Spain in the last eight but they were not able to enjoy consecutive shootout success.
Having resigned after Euro 2020, head coach Vladimir Petkovic has been replaced by former Basel boss Murat Yakin. Results have been mixed since his appointment but Switzerland were still able to finish ahead of Italy in the qualifiers to make it to Qatar. Yakin should also take confidence in the the Swiss’ most recent form too, winning three of their last four matches. This is included impressive Nations League wins against Spain, Portugal and Czech Republic, but they did lose their most recent World Cup warm-up 2-0 against Ghana.
Key Fixture
With qualification into the knockouts for Brazil being as much a guarantee as any heading into the tournament, the key matchup for Group G will be between Serbia and Switzerland. They are the nations most likely to secure the second qualifying spot and they will go head-to-head on the final matchday of the groups on December 12 in Doha.
Kaka thinks Serbia are the fourth favourites to win the World Cup. ????? pic.twitter.com/b100HtE6cF
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 10, 2022
Ones to Watch
West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta has been on excellent form heading into the competition and, despite previously earning a respectable 34 caps, the 25-year-old is yet to play at the World Cup. He will add some creative quality in the midfield for Brazil and has been featuring regularly in Tite’s side of late, starting in all four of their last international fixtures.
Granit Xhaka of Arsenal has been on scintillating form for the Gunners this season, blossoming in a new, advanced role under head coach Mikel Arteta. The 30-year-old is now in the prime of his career and has helped contribute three goals and three assists in the Premier League so far this season. He is set to captain Switzerland in Qatar and his performances will be vital to their success this winter.
Group G Final Prediction
Group G is undoubtedly one of the harder groups to predict heading into the tournament. Brazil perhaps have the strongest side on paper but both Serbia and Switzerland harbor a number of experienced players that play at the highest level around Europe and that have the capability to cause a few upsets.
Despite having a solid foundation, with the likes of Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, Newcastle United’s Fabian Schar and Xhaka, Switzerland’s options going forward offer little to impress. In contrast, Serbia have some strong players going forward, such as Vlahovic and Mitrovic, as well as in midfield in the form of Milinkovic-Savic and Juventus’ Filip Kostic. However, they are perhaps lacking a bit of quality and experience at the back.
We’re still backing Brazil to come out on top, due to the quality in their side, and also having a good mixture of youth and experience throughout the squad. In terms of the second qualifying spot, we’re going to go for Serbia to just about make it to the last 16 ahead of Switzerland, going against recent history. Quality surrounding the Serbian team has been building for some time but now seems like it could all come together for the Eagles.