By Sam Cook
Brazil
World Ranking 6
Best World Cup Finish- 5 Time Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Manager- Tite
Strengths of the Squad
This Brazil squad maybe doesn’t have the attacking brilliance of their iconic lineups of 1970 or 2002 but they have a lot of depth in an attack led by Neymar. This side is so deep that even the in form Roberto Firmino misses the call up and the well known names of Richarlison, Vinicius Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo, Raphina, Antony and Martinelli will fight for places alongside Neymar. Goals won’t be a problem as they’ve scored 3 or more in 6 of their last 7 games.
Weaknesses of the Squad
As usual teams that are loaded in attack can often be exposed in defence and whilst this is probably the most solid defence they’ve fielded for multiple tournaments, it is ageing with veterans Thiago Silva (38) and Dani Alves (39) looking like potential starters. Despite this experience the squad don’t actually have much tournament experience with many players still scarred by the 7-1 loss to Germany in their home world cup 8 years ago.
Star Player
Neymar is quite obviously the star of this side and this is time for him to potentially stake a claim for a Ballon d’Or with his club form being some of the best in the world. Across 14 league games he’s scored 11 whilst providing 9 assists as well and that form has carried over from his past two Brazil games where he scored one and assisted twice. The one problem he could face would be discipline having been booked in his past two internationals and also seeing yellow 6 times in 20 games for PSG.
One to Watch
This squad is packed full of so many stars that it’s hard to find a player to look out for that isn’t already an established name but the player that will be key is whoever plays alongside Casemiro and Fred. Recent games suggest it could be new West Ham man Lucas Paqueta and whilst he hasn’t shown much in London he’s performed well for the national team and is one of Tite’s favourites. In qualification he started 11 of 14 making sub appearances in the 3 games he didn’t start whilst also contributing 3 goals and I think he could be set for a big tournament.
Predictions
Brazil seem set to win this group and from there they will likely play one of Portugal or Uruguay in the round of 16. Many predictors have them meeting South American rivals Argentina in the semi finals in what would be a fantastic game. For me I think they do make the semi finals and I expect Neymar to make a big play at the Golden Ball.
Tips
I think the winner last place double for this group can be backed with Brazil and Cameroon priced at 6/4. I’d also advise Neymar for player of the tournament at 10/1 but I think the best bet would be Vinicius Jr to be the La Liga top scorer at this tournament where he's priced at 8/1 (1/4 3 Places EW) and I don’t see huge competition for him. Benzema and Depay are the market leaders but Mbappe will likely poach goals from Benzema and Depay is also expected to miss the first game. Other candidates include Lewandowski who likely won’t play enough games whereas I think Vini will.
Cameroon
World Ranking 43
Best World Cup Finish- Quarter Finals 1990
Manager- Rigobert Song
Strengths of the Squad
The clear strength of this side is their attack which is spearheaded by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, many will remember him from his days at Stoke where he was considered a flop. Since then he’s had spells at Bayern Munich, PSG and is now back at Bayern where he’s managed to fill the role of Lewandowksi and the injured Mane by scoring 10 in his last 9. He also scored in his side’s world cup warm up against Panama. He’ll be getting production from Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Napoli playmaker Frank Zambo Anguissa, which maybe isn’t quite as high quality as his domestic team but he should still get plenty of chances.
Weaknesses of the Squad
Questions have to be asked about the depth of their midfield outside of Zambo Anguissa. Another player who struggled in the Prem for Fulham, he’s been brilliant this season at Napoli playing slightly more advanced where he’s recorded 9 goals/assists in 18 games to help them to an unbeaten Serie A campaign and topping their CL group. The problem remains outside of him where they’re thin on the ground. Olivier Ntcham of Swansea where he’s been productive but mainly off the bench. Even so the quality stops there and I worry they have enough to create opportunities for their strong forward line.
Star Player
I’ve referenced him already but Zambo Anguissa will be key to this side with his creativity that has become a strong asset of his game this season, but also his atypical powerhouse workrate that he had previously been known for. We’ve seen before that African teams have the tendency to play their star players slightly out of position to where clubs may play them- think John Obi Mikel as a 10 for Nigeria, Iwobi as a centre mid (which Lampard has since adopted) or even Yaya played more advanced. I think Anguissa will do the same and take that club form into this tournament and be the orchestrator for this side.
One to Watch
Udinese defender Enzo Ebosse adds some needed youth to the likes of Nicolas NKoulou at the back and he’s another Cameroonian playing out in Italy, which you’d hope would provide some unity. He’s a left back but has played centre back a lot for his club and has forced his way into the starting eleven this season. The 23 year old was purchased from the French league and has only made one sub appearance for the national team, but a lack of depth in the position and his form might lead to starts and he’ll be on the radar of bigger clubs.
Prediction
This is a tough group with what looks like an established winner in Brazil and two solid European sides in Serbia and Switzerland. Avoiding defeat in their first game against Switzerland is imperative however they enter this tournament with poor World Cup form. Across their last 5 tournaments they’ve managed to win only one group stage game and I struggle to make a case for them qualifying.
Tips
I do think that they could get the better of Switzerland and as a result they could finish 3rd but my main bet for them would be Bryan Mbeumo to be their top goalscorer, which is priced at 9/1 and I think that’s definitely worth a poke.
Serbia
World Ranking 21
Best World Cup Finish- Fourth as part of Yugoslavia in 1930 & 1962. Group Stage as Serbia in 2018
Manager- Dragan Stojkovic
Strengths of the Squad
This is a team with a lot of firepower in attack and they’ll be captained by one of the best assisters of his generation, although wildly underrated, Dusan Tadic. The Ajax man has been brilliant since moving to the Eredivisie and he’ll provide plenty of chances for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and national team top scorer Aleksander Mitrovic. With the likes of Luka Jovic also in the squad they’re not short of firepower.
Weaknesses
Their main weakness just has to be inexperience at this level. This is only the second world cup they’ve qualified for since partitioning from Yugoslavia and then later Montenegro. Last time in Russia they finished 3rd in a group with Brazil and Switzerland, so they’ll try use those game experiences to help them this year but I still worry about big game big stage experience for much of their squad bar Tadic.
Star Player
Sergei Milinkovic-Savic is their engine in central midfield and whilst he’s always impressed at Lazio and is seemingly always connected to transfer rumours he’s yet to make the move, and also yet to burst out on the international stage. Serbians will hope this is his time as the all round midfielder will get up and down the pitch, supported by Gudelj defensively and linking with Tadic offensively.
One to Watch
Vlahovic isn’t exactly an unknown given that he’s already made a big time move to Juventus at the age of just 22 but he’s maybe not known by the casual armchair fan and I think after this tournament he will be. He’s scored 6 in 10 for a poor Juventus side this year in the league and he’s on track to recreate his incredible 24 goals and 5 assists across 36 games last year. At 6 foot 3 inches he’s dominant in the air and crosses from Filip Kostic will be well received, especially playing against familiar Serie A defenders in the Cameroon squad.
Predictions
I actually think Serbia will reverse the table of the last world cup and they’ll progress in 2nd place instead of Switzerland. That game was marred with controversy as both Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, both having ties to Albania and Kosovo, celebrated their goals with a nationalistic show of support for Albania. The game was incredibly heated with 5 cards being dished out but I think Serbia will be out for revenge and make good on those 4 years of waiting.
Tips
Serbia to qualify is the obvious bet and that’s priced at 11/10 with the Brazil Serbia straight forecast also nicely priced at 2s. As for top scorer I can’t look past Vlahovic, despite Mitrovic’s form, and I think he’s good value at 5/1 as top Serie A scorer but 3/1 to be top scorer for Serbia seems way overpriced.
Switzerland
World Ranking 15
Best World Cup Finish- Quarter Finals 1934. 1938 & 1954
Manager- Murat Yakin
Strengths of the Squad
The strength here has to be tournament and qualifying form. It’s a very experienced side and they have a history of progressing from the group stage doing so 5 of the last 6 times in major tournaments including a Euro 2020 knockout win over WC champions France. They also topped a qualifying group that had Euro champions Italy in, effectively causing Italy to not qualify for this world cup. It’s clear this is a well drilled side in games against the big boys.
Weaknesses of the Squad
This isn’t the youngest squad and there’s a lack of goals up top with touted wonderkid Breel Embolo failing to build on that promise, now aged 25 and with only 11 goals in 59 internationals. Key players like Xherdan Shaqiri and Denis Zakaria either aren’t playing or are playing at a poor level, with Shaqiri plying his trade in the MLS aged only 30 and Zakaria only having played once since his move to Chelsea.
Star Player
A familiar name for Premier League fans and that’s captain Granit Xhaka. His form at international level has never been questioned but his club form over the past 18 months has hit another level and he’s truly justifying himself as one of the best midfielders in the league. This season he’s even added goals into his game and leading his side into a World Cup he looks sure to star again and will reach his 110th cap in the tournament.
One to Watch
Ruben Vargas is a tricky winger aged 24 who plays for Augsburg and will no doubt be shipped to a superior Bundesliga club soon. He’s been operating on the right hand flank for his club this season but that could be interchangeable in the Swiss system. He doesn’t have the returns that jump off the page but his technical ability and crossing talent is impressive.
Predictions
Despite this experience I’ve touted Serbia to avenge their 2018 loss to the Swiss and knock them out by qualifying second. I think this could be a case of the result against Cameroon and goal difference knocking Switzerland out. If they were to progress I wouldn’t give them much of a chance against Portugal/Uruguay.
Tips
I think an outside punt at a price could be the Swiss to finish bottom of the group. It goes against the tournament form and the trends but it’s just a case of really liking the opposition sides. Priced at 11/4 to finish last or taking the first place last place double with Brazil at 7/2 would be my bet. I think goals could be a problem so 0-2 goals at 15/8 also interests me.
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