World Cup: Group G preview

bet365 News Team Updated: Oct 05 2023 10:03 Published: Sep 20 2022 18:39

Five-time winners Brazil are the star turn in Group G, seeking to fend off European aces Serbia and Switzerland plus African regulars Cameroon.

The South Americans will expect to top the group, but the battle for second place is a tough one to call.

What:	World Cup
Where:	Qatar
When:	20th November - 18th December 2022
How to watch:	All matches will be shown on either the BBC or ITV
Odds:	Brazil 9/2, England 11/2, France 6/1, Argentina 7/1, Spain 8/1

The Brazilians are 4/9 to win the group, with the Swiss at 9/2 and Serbia at 11/2, while outsiders Cameroon are as big as 12/5 just to qualify.

If the world rankings stand up then Brazil have got top spot sewn up with Switzerland, 1/1 to qualify, following them through.

The Serbs are 11/10 to qualify for the last 16, something they haven't done in theri current form, while Cameroon have suffered five group-stage blow-outs since reaching the last eight at Italia '90.

Who has been drawn in Group G?

Country	Manager	Captain	Best Ever Finish	Odds To Qualify From Group G	Odds To Win Group G
Brazil	Tite	Thiago Silva	Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)	1/9	4/9
Serbia	Dragan Stojkovic	Dusan Tadic	Group stage (2010, 2018)	11/10	11/2
Switzerland	Murat Yakin	Granit Xhaka	Quarter-finals (1934, 1938, 1954)	1/1	9/2
Cameroon	Rigobert Song	Vincent Aboubakar	Quarter-finals (1990)	12/5	12/1

Brazil have extended their incredible record of appearing at every World Cup courtesy of a routine qualification campaign. Indeed, it really couldn't have been any easier.

They played 17 qualifiers - one fewer than most because their home tie against Argentina was never played - and finished with 45 points, six clear of the next best. They won every home game played and finished up unbeaten.

Serbia and Switzerland were also group winners in the UEFA competition, though their first-place finishes defied the odds. The Serbs pipped Portugal for top spot in Group A, the Swiss finished ahead of Italy in Group C.

Cameroon, meanwhile, did it the hard way. They beat Ivory Coast 1-0 in a winner-takes-all group game simply to reach the final qualifying round where they came from behind to beat Algeria, away, in the final seconds of extra-time.

When are the Group G fixtures?

Date	Match number	Team 1	Team 2	KO time	Venue
24th November	13	Switzerland	Cameronn	10:00	Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
24th November	16	Brazil	Serbia	19:00	Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
28th November	29	Cameroon	Serbia	10:00	Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
28th November	31	Brazil	Switzerland	16:00	Stadium 974, Doha
2nd December	47	Serbia	Switzerland	19:00	Stadium 974, Doha
2nd December	48	Cameroon	Brazil	19:00	Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail

It's a case of old friends reunited in Group G with Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland renewing rivalries from the group stage in Russia four years ago.

The section kicks off on November 24 with a first-ever meeting - at any level - between Switzerland and Cameroon before Brazil make their grand entrance a few hours later against Serbia, renewing a rivalry which started way back at the first World Cup in 1930.

Cameroon against Serbia is another World Cup first whereas Brazil and Switzerland will be meeting in the finals for a third time.

And then it's potentially an explosive all-European decider between Serbia and Switzerland, four years after they met in a controversial, politically-charged encounter in Kaliningrad which the Swiss won 2-1. At the same time Brazil and Cameroon clash in Lusail.

Related World Cup Group G News

World Cup - Football: Brazil team profile

World Cup - Football: Cameroon team profile

World Cup - Football: Serbia team profile

World Cup - Football: Switzerland team profile

Who are the players to look out for in Group G?

The Brazil squad heading to Qatar is packed with star quality but there's no doubt who the pin-up of the group is - Neymar.

The PSG striker might have turned 30 this year, but he's still firing in goals for club and country and will have his backers at 12/1 to win the Golden Boot.

So, too, of course will Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior at 33/1, Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus and even Spurs ace Richarlison at 40/1. Coach Tite's job will be giving them all minutes on the pitch.

Serbia have their own star strikers in Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, one of Serie A's most sought-after frontmen last season, and Fulham powerhouse Aleksander Mitrovic.

Switzerland are built around an array of veterans of the calibre of Fabian Schar, Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka, while Cameroon have enough gems playing in Europe - the likes of Napoli ace Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Bayern's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - to feel confident they won't be overawed.

If they are going to pull a surprise qualification rabbit out of the hat, though, then they'll need ageless skipper Vincent Aboubakar, a 150/1 Golden Boot pick, to deliver.

Who could be the breakout stars in Group G?

Dusan Vlahovic, Serbia's, 22-year-old, striker was the talk of Italian football last season banging in goals for Fiorentina and has coped admirably with the pressure of a £70m switch to Juventus, where he continues to find the net.

Watch out for Ivan Ilic, a one-time Manchester City graduate now starring in Verona's midfield. He's such an intelligent player one Italian newspaper dubbed him 'The Professor' - not bad for a kid of 21.

The Brazilian conveyor belt continues to churn out young superstars, none bigger than Vinicius Junior. His Real Madrid team-mate Rodrygo, a year younger at 21 but every bit as precociously gifted, is another superstar.

Also, keep an eye out for 21-year-old midfielder Danilo, who Palmeiras have built their title-winning midfield around.

Replacing the old guard at Switzerland isn't easy though two to monitor are Nice defender Jordan Lotomba and exciting Salzburg talent Noah Okafor.

And Jean Onana, the young Cameroon midfielder, has moved to Lens having been courted by both Milan and Napoli. It will be interesting to see what they saw in the 22-year-old.

Who will win Group G?

Brazil's knack of winning qualifying groups is legendary and having eclipsed both Serbia and Switzerland four years ago, there is no reason to think they won't do it again.

The battle for second is far more intriguing with Switzerland's knack of qualifying - they've emerged from the group at each of their last four major finals - maybe gives them an edge.