Brazil vs. Serbia: Top Storylines, Odds, Live Stream for World Cup 2022

The pre-tournament favorite to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup opens its group-stage campaign on Thursday against a team that entered Qatar as a dark horse.

Brazil, led by Neymar, is projected to make a deep run in Qatar after it cruised through CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.

The Seleção once again have lofty expectations placed on them, but there is strong belief that Neymar and Co. can deliver.

Brazil will be wary of an upset threat from Serbia in Thursday's game, especially after Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Serbia is not as low in the FIFA world rankings as Saudi Arabia, but a victory for the Eagles would still be considered a shock.

Serbia's strength is its attack. The European side scored 13 goals in its last four games before Qatar.

Aleksandar Mitrović, Dušan Tadić and others could give the Brazil defense a difficult time over 90 minutes, and that is why there is potential for a point or more to be earned.

Odds and Match Info

VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images

Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson deflects a shot during a training session on November 14, 2022 at the Continassa training ground in Turin, northern Italy, as part of Brazil's national football team preparation ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. - The week-long countdown to the World Cup in Qatar begins as the world's leading footballers focused their attention on one of the most controversial tournaments in history. The first World Cup to be held in the Arab world will kick off on November 20, 2022, when the host nation face Ecuador. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP) (Photo by VINCENZO PINTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Brazil (-205; bet $205 to win $100)

Serbia (+550; bet $100 to win $550)

Draw (+360)

Over 2.5 Goals (-140); Under 2.5 Goals (+110)

Match Info

Date: Thursday, November 24

Start Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Brazil Aiming for Strong Start

ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images

Brazil's Richarlison (front L) vies for the ball against South Korea's Hong Chul at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on June 2, 2022, during a friendly football match between South Korea and Brazil. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP) (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Brazil gained the pre-tournament favorite title because of how impressive it was in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying and its loaded roster.

Neymar is the star of the team, and he is expected to score plenty of goals, but he is far from the only threat on the Seleção roster.

Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus are the other two Brazilian players who enter Qatar with a double-digit tally in international goals.

Antony, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Rodrygo make up the forward depth on one of the deepest teams in the tournament.

Brazil can also control the game through its midfield engine room of Casemiro and Fred. The Manchester United duo will be tasked with keeping Serbia out of the final third.

The Seleção should have a good mix of youth and experience in the back. Thirty-eight-year-old Thiago Silva and 39-year-old Dani Alves lead a group that conceded five goals in 14 matches in World Cup qualifying.

Brazil also has one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Alisson, so it will be hard for any opponent to break down the South American side.

Brazil will need to be switched on in their opener in order to prevent a letdown as the other pre-tournament favorite suffered. After Argentina stumbled against Saudi Arabia, Brazil will love to make a statement with three or four goals to prove its title credentials.

Serbia Poses Tough Challenge with Strong Attack

Zed Jameson/MB Media/Getty Images

LISBON, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 14: Dusan Vlahovic and Nikola Milenković of Serbia celebrate after winning the match at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Portugal and Serbia at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 14, 2021 in Lisbon, Lisboa. (Photo by Zed Jameson/MB Media/Getty Images)

Serbia has one of the more underrated attacking units in the World Cup.

Aleksandar Mitrović, Dušan Vlahović and Luka Jović have the potential to cause all sorts of trouble to any defense.

Serbia topped its UEFA World Cup qualifying group by scoring 18 goals in eight matches. It scored four of those goals in matches against Portugal, which was sent to the qualification playoff because of its second-place finish.

Jović and Vlahović are expected to start on Thursday because Mitrović is working his way back from an ankle injury suffered on club duty with Fulham. He's scored nine in 12 Premier League games this season and is his nation's all-time top scorer (50 goals), so he'll be a big miss if he doesn't line up.

Vlahović has been one of the best strikers in the big five European leagues over the last 18 months with Fiorentina and Juventus in Serie A, scoring 30 goals in league play during that time. He will be the main threat up top against the Brazil defense.

The strong attack will be Serbia's key to getting out of the group over Switzerland and Cameroon.

Serbia did not make it out of the group stage in its last three World Cup appearances in 2006, 2010 and 2018.

It may help that Serbia played Brazil four years ago in Russia, and there may not be fear inside the squad because of the form their strikers have shown on the club stage.

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