World Cup 2018: Serbia vs Brazil prediction, team line-ups and preview as Group E reaches climax
The South American giants went top of Group E after their victory over Costa Rica while Serbia lost late on against Switzerland
That late, late show against Costa Rica put Brazil back on track but did not answer too many of the doubts about Tite’s side and the internal unhappiness with Neymar.
Brazil have not been eliminated in the group stage since 1966 when Pele was booted out of the competition by thuggish defenders.
But a victory for the Serbs, who must win to have any chance of going through, could yet provide the real shock story of the opening phase.
The nation expects: Brazil are supposed to win the thing and exorcise the ghosts of Belo Horizonte, although they could face a repeat of that semi-final with Germany in the last 16 here.
Serbian pride suffered a huge blow when Switzerland’s Albanian-background stars Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri downed them in Kaliningrad. The fans will demand a “take no prisoners” approach.
Key battles/Star men: Neymar has hardly covered himself in glory so far and many in Brazil mocked his tears at the end of the Costa Rica game. But surely this is his time to stand up and be counted.
Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic will loom to rough up Miranda and Thiago Silva but Dusan Tadic’s ability to exploit the gaps left by Marcelo may be equally key
Best bet: Despite victory against Costa Rica, Brazil have not yet lived up to their pre-tournament favourites hype so far.
With three strong teams in Group E, there was always going to be at least one that would miss out.
And knowing that Switzerland are heavy favourites in their Costa Rica clash, Serbia will want to go all out against the South Americans and could spring a shock result.
have the Europeans to beat Brazil and potentially knock them out at a tantalising 11/2.
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Weakest links: Brazil do not, so far, appear to be as good as they think they are and defensive vulnerabilities could have been exposed by Costa Rica as they were by the Swiss in the opener.
Stamina appears to be as biggest problem for an ageing Serbian side. They have faded badly in both matches so far and will have to last the full 90 to have any chance of pulling off a shock.
Likely line-ups and Team Talk: Tite’s main calls are whether to recall Danilo at right-back or stick with Corinthians’ Fagner. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino is desperate for a start but Gabriel Jesus remains the man in possession.
Probable team: Allison; Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Casemiro, Paulinho; Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar; Gabriel Jesus
Six Serbs carry a booking into the match but this is all or nothing and coach Mladen Krstajic is expected to stick with his first-choice side.
Probable team: Vladimir Stojkovic; Branislav Ivanovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Dusko Tosic, Aleksandar Kolarov; Nemanja Matic, Luka Milivojevic; Dusan Tadic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Adem Ljajic; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Prem Tsar in the making: Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has shown hints of his potential although he has hardly looked a £75m man so far. This is his opportunity to make a point to Jose Mourinho.
Fact me:
- Yugoslavia included, Serbia and Brazil have met four times at the World Cup. Their head-to-head record is perfectly balanced with one win each and two draws.
- Serbia and Brazil’s first ever World Cup appearance was in a match against each other in 1930 – Yugoslavia running out 2-1 winners.
- In total though (including as Yugoslavia), Serbia have faced Brazil on 19 occasions – winning just twice (D7 L10).
- This will be the second meeting between Serbia and Brazil with the former as an independent nation – their first encounter was in a friendly in June 2014, Brazil winning 1-0.
- In all competitions, Brazil are unbeaten in 13 matches (W9 D4 L0), conceding just three goals in that run.
- Brazil have only managed one victory in their last seven World Cup games against European opposition (D2 L4) – a 3-1 win against Croatia in 2014.
- As an independent nation, Serbia have lost each of the six World Cup matches in which they have conceded, winning the two in which they kept clean sheets.
- Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 goals in 26 games for club and country in 2018.
- Philippe Coutinho has scored in each of his last three appearances for Brazil.
- Brazil’s Neymar has been directly involved in 18 goals in his last 17 appearances for the national side (10 goals, 8 assists).