World Cup 2022 Group G: favourites Brazil should have few problems progressing

With the tournament in Qatar now less than five months away, we are continuing our countdown to the big kick-off. Here’s what we can expect from the four teams in Group G World Cup 2022.

Which teams are in Group G at the World Cup?

Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon are the sides that make up Group E. Brazil are the outright favourites to win the tournament and will expect to get out of this group without too many problems. Each of the other three teams will be vying for second.

Group G World Cup fixtures

24 November, 10am: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

24 November, 7pm: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

28 November, 10am: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

28 November, 4pm: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

2 December, 7pm: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

2 December, 7pm: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Brazil: FIFA Ranking, Squad, Fixtures

Brazil’s FIFA ranking is first, which tells you everything you need to know about their prospects in Qatar.

The Selecao have at times struggled in World Cup qualifying South America, even when they have gone on to have a successful tournament. Indeed, they were crowned world champions in 2002, but they actually finished behind Argentina and Ecuador in the CONMEBOL section of qualification.

Tite’s side breezed through the notoriously difficult process this time. Brazil won 14 of their 17 matches and drew the other three; they scored the most goals and conceded the fewest. Theirs is a well-balanced squad with a tremendous amount of talent in virtually every position. It says everything about the strength of the 2022 Brazil team that players of the calibre of Ederson, Fabinho, Thiago Silva and Gabriel Jesus are unlikely to start in Qatar.

The perennial favourites will take some stopping this winter as they attempt to win the World Cup for the first time in two decades.

Brazil’s World Cup 2022 Fixtures

24 November, 7pm: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

28 November, 4pm: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

2 December, 7pm: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Serbia: FIFA Ranking, Squad, Fixtures

Serbia’s FIFA ranking is 25th, which puts them between Morocco and Poland. They have now qualified for four of the last five World Cups (one as Serbia and Montenegro) but they have not got out of the group since the Yugoslavia days. A 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on matchday one in 2018 was followed by pivotal losses to Brazil and Switzerland, two of their Group G opponents this time around.

The Serbia team 2022 contains more quality than its predecessor, with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic one to watch in Qatar. Dragan Stojkovic’s side booked their spot at the tournament in impressive fashion, amassing three more points than Portugal to qualify automatically.

Serbia have promised much and delivered little before, though, and kicking things off against this Brazil World Cup team is not ideal.

Serbia’s World Cup 2022 Fixtures

24 November, 7pm: Brazil vs Serbia (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

28 November, 10am: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

2 December, 7pm: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

Switzerland qualified for the World Cup in a group also containing European champions Italy

Switzerland: FIFA Ranking, Squad, Fixtures

The Switzerland FIFA ranking of 14th suggests that, with a little bit of luck on their side, Murat Yakin’s side could be potential dark horses to reach the latter stages in Qatar.

Notwithstanding a comprehensive 3-0 defeat by Italy in the group phase, the Swiss performed well at Euro 2020. They deservedly knocked out France in the round of 16 and pushed Spain all the way in the quarter-finals. Qualifying for Qatar 2022 ahead of Italy was no mean feat either.

This Switzerland World Cup team possess a good blend of youth and experience. Their meeting with Serbia on matchday three could determine both nations’ fate.

Switzerland’s World Cup 2022 Fixtures

24 November, 10am: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

28 November, 4pm: Brazil vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

2 December, 7pm: Serbia vs Switzerland (Stadium 974, Doha)

Cameroon: FIFA Ranking, Squad, Fixtures

The Cameroon FIFA ranking of 37th means they are below several sides that failed to qualify for the tournament in Qatar.

The Indomitable Lions reached the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, but home advantage was a big factor. That is not to say they are not capable of advancing to the knockout stage in Qatar, but they will be the underdogs in Group C World Cup 2022.

A Cameroon World Cup team has not got out of the group since 1990. Their hopes of doing so will depend heavily on the form of Vincent Aboubakar, who scored a tournament-high eight goals at the aforementioned Cup of Nations. However, the Cameroon FIFA ranking of 37th shows they will be up against it.

Cameroon’s World Cup 2022 Fixtures

24 November, 10am: Switzerland vs Cameroon (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

28 November, 10am: Cameroon vs Serbia (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah)

2 December, 7pm: Cameroon vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail)

Verdict

Anything less than nine points for Brazil would be a surprise. This is not a vintage Cameroon side so the battle for second will probably be between the two European nations, with Switzerland’s superior experience likely to stand them in good stead.