Brazil vs Serbia Predictions

• Serbia hit 18 goals in just eight qualifying games, with seven seeing both teams score
• The Serbians scored 13 goals in their final five Nations League games to win promotion to the top tier
• Brazil have scored three or more in six of their last seven matches
• The five-time champions have won 73 World Cup games, more than any other side

Brazil make hotly anticipated start

Tournament favourites Brazil make their hotly anticipated entrance in Qatar in the final match of the opening round of fixtures. Their clash with Serbia is arguably the pick of the opening 16 matches, given that the European side toppled Portugal in qualifying and boasts plenty of quality attacking options.

However, this looks like a Brazilian side at the peak of their powers. The World Cup‘s most successful side head to Qatar at the head of the betting following an unbeaten campaign through South America’s gruelling qualifying process. Can they meet expectations and start things off with a victory?

Serbia pack a punch

Serbia hit 18 goals across World Cup qualifying, which helped them to stay unbeaten in their group despite conceding more goals than both Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. They showed their attacking credentials in this year’s Nations League games, scoring 13 times across their last six games as they racked up 13 points on their way to promotion to the top tier.

Serbia play an aggressively attacking style with adventurous wing-backs, with Filip Kostic a particular threat from the left. Up top they boast Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic, although the Fulham forward is set to miss this clash. In midfield, Serbia have Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Tadic are on creative duty, so there’s class all across this Serbian side.

Brazil to prove too strong

However, Brazil have scoring threat of their own. They’ve scored three or more goals in six of their last seven matches, hitting 26 goals in that run. While Neymar remains a major figure for them going forward, Tottenham’s Richarlison starts as their number nine and his record of late is fantastic. He’s scored in five of his last six internationals, hitting seven goals. He proved his fitness with a stunning scissor kick in training and he can notch against Serbia.

Brazil’s excellent attacking record should cause a lot of headaches for Serbia. It’s hard to see this being a repeat of Brazil’s 2-0 win from the 2018 World Cup. Both sides have more attacking threat this time around, so backing over 2.5 goals to be scored looks like the smart play.

Brazil have won more games (73) and have the best win rate (67%) of any nation in World Cup history. They head into this clash unbeaten in their last 15 World Cup group games, winning 12. Back them to come through the opener with maximum points thanks to their great scoring form, with a 3-1 win my selection.

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