Predictions Lineups Brazil vs Serbia: The Seleção Haunted by Trauma of First Match and Score 3-1
Brazil and Serbia met in the 2018 World Cup group stage match. At that time the Samba Team managed to beat their opponents with two goals without reply.
Brazil's goals at that time were created by Paulinho and Thiago Silva. This victory made Brazil qualify for the round of 16 with the title of Group E winner.
Brazil, of course, wants to repeat this sweet result when they meet Serbia again early tomorrow. Before that, let's look at the interesting facts about the Brazil vs Serbia match below.
Brazil's First Match Trauma
Despite qualifying as Group E winners at the 2018 World Cup, Brazil actually started their adventure in Russia at that time not so smoothly.
Brazil was only able to draw 1-1 against another European team, Switzerland in the inaugural match. At that time, Philippe Coutinho's goal was replied to by Steven Zuber.
Brazil, of course, is reluctant to repeat this result in this edition. Results other than victory are certain to make Selecao 's steps difficult in the future.
The reason is, in Group G this time, Brazil still has to compete with Switzerland - the country that held them to a draw at the 2018 World Cup - and the dark horse team from Africa, Cameroon.
Brazil World Cup Regulars
- Brazil is the only country that always appears in every edition of the World Cup. This 2022 edition is the Selecao's 22nd World Cup.
- Brazil is the country with the most World Cup wins (73 times) and the country with the most championship titles (5 times).
- Brazil has always managed to come out victorious in the initial group stage in the last 10 World Cup finals.
- Brazil has only been able to win 7 of their last 15 matches at the World Cup.
- In Brazil's last 10 matches on the World Cup stage, they have only managed to keep a clean sheet three times.
- Before drawing in the first match of the 2018 edition, Brazil had 9 times in a row, always in the first match of the World Cup.
- The Selecao are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in the group stage of the World Cup.
- Neymar only needs 3 more goals to equal Pele's record as Brazil's top scorer.
Serbia's Bad Record in First Match
- Serbia has recorded 8 defeats in their last 10 matches in the World Cup.
- Serbia's last 4 wins in the World Cup have always been achieved with a score of 1-0.
- Despite winning in the opening match of the 2018 edition, Serbia's record is actually bad. Serbia have only won 2 of their opening matches in their last 9 World Cups.
- Serbia won 5 of their last 6 matches in all competitions (1 draw).
- Of the last 16 matches in all competitions, Serbia has recorded only 2 defeats (12 wins, 2 draws).
Lineups Prediction of Brazil vs Serbia
Serbia (3-4-1-2): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Nikola Milenkovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Nemanja Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filip Kostic; Dusan Tadic; Dusan Vlahovic, Luka Jovic
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro; Casemiro, Lucas Paqueta; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Junior; Richarlison.
Tactics and Scenario for the Brazil vs Serbia match:
Facing the super-sharp Brazil, Serbia prepared to protect its goalkeeper extra by installing three central defenders in a 3-4-1-2 formation. Unfortunately, Aleksandar Mitrovic is still struggling with an ankle injury so he will likely miss this match. For that, Luka Jovic might be installed as a starter at the end of the attack with Dusan Vlahovic.
Dusan Tadic will be right behind the twin spearheads to break concentration and disrupt the Brazilian defense. However, Serbia's strength lies in the midfield where the in-form Sergej Milinkovic-Savic will partner Nemanja Gudelj at the epicenter of the pitch. The role of both will be the foundation to dampen Brazilian aggression and become the motor when planning attacks.
The defense unit must be at its best when facing a team as great as Brazil who never stop pressing. For this reason, the central defender trio Stefan Mitrovic, Nikola Milenkovic and Strahinja Pavlovic will form a fortress in front of goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic. Andrija Zivkovic and Filip Kostic will be the two full-backs who simultaneously battle with the Brazilian wingers and help attack from the flanks.
Whoever the opponent is, Brazil is sure to keep attacking. But Tite is a different kind of coach than his predecessors. It emphasizes balance. The extraordinary aggression of his team, he always countered with a solid defense.
He looks to be setting up an equally strong pattern both at the back and at the front. This makes the 4-2-3-1 formation the most ideal for Brazil. Moreover, Serbia does not have the habit of relying on counterattacks and is reactive in piling up players when facing an aggressive team.
In a formation like this, Alisson Becker will be very well protected by the central defender duo Thiago Silva and Marquinhos in the heart of the defence. The duet has proven its worth at Paris Saint-Germain. Danilo will guard them from the right wing, while Alex Sandro will be on the left wing of defence.
Tete might pair Casemiro, whose place is irreplaceable, with Lucas Paqueta, on the axis of the field. Casemiro has the extra task of helping the defense, while Paqueta will actively flow the ball forward and occasionally stab, helping the attacking team which will be filled with three equally lethal stars.
Neymar will be installed right behind the spearhead of Richarlison. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha will stab Serbia from both wings. The combination of these four front players can be a frightening specter for any team's defense.
Important Statistics Brazil vs Serbia:
- Prior to this, Brazil and Serbia have met once in the World Cup, to be precise in the group phase of the 2018 World Cup. The South American team won 2-0 from two goals scored by Paulinho and Thiago Silva. In other meetings Brazil also won 1-0 in a friendly match in 2014.
- Brazil has won the World Cup five times and this edition is again the favorite to win.
- Brazil have appeared in the finals every time since 1930 but since last winning in 2002 they have never reached the final again.
- Neymar is Brazil's top scorer during World Cup qualifying in the South American zone with eight goals. At that time they escaped without a single defeat.
- Aleksandar Mitrovic, Serbia's all-time leading scorer with 50 goals, also scored eight goals in World Cup qualifiers but may miss injury in this opener.
- Serbia went unbeaten during 2022 World Cup qualifying to top their group after Mitrovic scored the winner against Portugal to seal automatic ticket to Qatar.
- Serbia have not gone past the group stage since their split with Montenegro in 2006.
Score Prediction for Brazil vs Serbia:
Seeing what happened to the United States when they were defeated by Saudi Arabia, the Brazilian national team cannot assume that they will be able to win this match easily. Moreover, Serbia is known to have strength and solidity far above Saudi Arabia or Japan, which has taken Germany by surprise.
However, the Selecao can take advantage of the weakness of the Serbian back line which always conceded in their eight qualifiers. With the player material they have, they are very favored to win this match.
Option 1 Score Brazil vs Serbia: 2-0
Option 2 Score Brazil vs Serbia: 1-0
Option 3 Score Brazil vs Serbia: 1-1
Option 4 Score Brazil vs Serbia: 0-1
Option 5 Score Brazil vs Serbia: 3-1
of the 5 options the most likely is option number 5, namely the score of Brazil vs Serbia is 3-1.
But, even so that's just a mere prediction, so it's not necessarily true. We'll see how the game will turn out later.
