The No. 1 ranked team by FIFA, Brazil, headlines an intriguing Group G that appears to have that No. 2 spot up for grabs behind the Canaries. Can the Brazilians break a surprising drought of — what’s by their standards — mediocrity at the World Cup?
2022 World Cup Group G preview
Brazil
- FIFA Rank: 1st
- Qualification: 1st place in CONMEBOL qualifying
- Previous World Cup appearances: 21
- Best finish: Champions (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
- Odds to win group: -300
- Odds to make knockout stage: -1000
- Odds to win World Cup: +400
A new generation of Brazilian superstars is set to make their mark on the soccer world with a high-pressing, possessive style of play that makes them the favorites to win a sixth World Cup title. Brazil has arguably the best keeper in the world in Alisson, the best center-back in Marquinhos, and a bevy of attacking brilliance with Neymar and Lucas Paqueta. While A Seleção is the most successful national team in history, it’s in a slump not seen in its 108-year existence. It’s been four consecutive World Cup in which Brazil has not finished in the top three. That’s never happened before.
X-Factor: Neymar Not only is Neymar still the face of Brazil, but he’s also battling the ghosts of legends past — specifically Pele. The 31-year-old is now the same age as the legendary forward when he retired from the national team. Pele had three World Cups to his name. Neymar has none. He needs one to enter the conversation of being labeled one of the greatest Brazilian soccer players ever.
Brazil World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Alisson | Liverpool |
| Goalkeeper | Ederson | Manchester City |
| Goalkeeper | Weverton | Palmeiras |
| Defender | Dani Alves | UNAM |
| Defender | Thiago Silva | Chelsea |
| Defender | Marquinhos | PSG |
| Defender | Danilo | Juventus |
| Defender | Alex Telles | Sevilla |
| Defender | Alex Sandro | Juventus |
| Defender | Eder Militao | Real Madrid |
| Defender | Bremer | Juventus |
| Midfielder | Bruno Guimarães | Newcastle United |
| Midfielder | Casemiro | Real Madrid |
| Midfielder | Lucas Paqueta | Lyon |
| Midfielder | Fabinho | Liverpool |
| Midfielder | Fred | Manchester United |
| Midfielder | Everton Ribeiro | Flamengo |
| Forward | Neymar | PSG |
| Forward | Gabriel Jesus | Arsenal |
| Forward | Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid |
| Forward | Antony | Manchester United |
| Forward | Richarlison | Tottenham |
| Forward | Rafinha | Barcelona |
| Forward | Rodrygo | Real Madrid |
| Forward | Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal |
| Forward | Pedro | Flamengo |
Cameroon
- FIFA Rank: 43rd
- Qualification: Defeated Algeria in CAF 3rd Round
- Previous World Cup appearances: 7
- Best finish: Quarterfinals (1990)
- Odds to win group: +1200
- Odds to make knockout stage: +350
- Odds to win World Cup:+25000
New manager Rigobert Song is still feeling out his side as they head to Qatar as heavy underdogs within Group G. But this is a Cameroon side that once upon a time shocked the defending champions Argentina at the 1990 World Cup on their way to their only quarterfinal appearance in the competition. The Indomitable Lions are in good form and they can score some goals. Should be quite a test for Serbia and Switzerland.
X-Factor: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa The midfielder is having one of his finest seasons with Napoli in Italy, recording three goals and three assists across 18 matches in all competitions. This will be the player to pull all the strings for Cameroon’s attack in Qatar.
Cameroon World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Simon Ngapandouetnbu | Marseille |
| Goalkeeper | Devis Epassy | Abha |
| Goalkeeper | Andre Onana | Inter Milan |
| Defender | Nicolas Nkoulou | Aris |
| Defender | Enzo Ebosse | Udinese |
| Defender | Nouhou Tolo | Seattle Sounders |
| Defender | Olivier Mbaizo | Philadelphia Union |
| Defender | Collins Fai | Al-Tai |
| Defender | Jean-Charles Castelletto | Nantes |
| Defender | Christopher Wooh | Rennes |
| Midfielder | Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa | Napoli |
| Midfielder | Jerome Ngom Mbekeli | APEJES de Mfou |
| Midfielder | Gael Ondoa | Hannover |
| Midfielder | Samuel Gouet | Mechelen |
| Midfielder | Pierre Kunde | Olympiacos |
| Midfielder | Martin Hongla | Hellas Verona |
| Midfielder | Olivier Ntcham | Swansea City |
| Forward | Vincent Aboubakar | Al-Nassr |
| Forward | Souaibou Marou | Coton Sport |
| Forward | Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting | Bayern Munich |
| Forward | Christian Bassogog | Shanghai Shenhua |
| Forward | Moumi Ngamaleu | Dynamo Moscow |
| Forward | Georges-Kevin Nkoudou | Besiktas |
| Forward | Jean-Pierre Nsame | Young Boys |
| Forward | Karl Toko Ekambi | Lyon |
| Forward | Bryan Mbeumo | Brentford |
Serbia
- FIFA Rank: 21st
- Qualification: Group A winners in UEFA qualifying
- Previous World Cup appearances: 12 (9 as Yugoslavia, 1 as Serbia and Montenegro, 2 as Serbia)
- Best finish: Semifinals (1930, 1962)
- Odds to win group: +650
- Odds to make knockout stage: +130
- Odds to win World Cup: +8000
Serbia outlasted Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to win its group in UEFA qualifying. Much of that has to do with Serbian legend Dragan Stojkovic taking over as manager, helping the Eagles transform into more of an attacking side.
X-Factor: Dusan Vlahovic With Serbia’s defense in question, Vlahovic will have to carry over his form with Juventus in Italy to spark Serbia’s attack. He has six goals in 10 Serie A matches and should create a fearsome duo with the always-dangerous Aleksander Mitrovic up front.
Serbia World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Marko Dmitrovic | Sevilla |
| Goalkeeper | Vanja Milinkovic-Savic | Torino |
| Goalkeeper | Predrag Rajković | Mallorca |
| Defender | Nikola Milenkovic | Fiorentina |
| Defender | Stefan Mitrovic | Getafe |
| Defender | Strahinja Pavlovic | Salzburg |
| Defender | Milos Veljkovic | Werder Bremen |
| Defender | Filip Mladenovic | Legia Warsaw |
| Defender | Srdan Babic | Almeria |
| Defender | Strahinja Erakovic | Red Star Belgrade |
| Midfielder | Dusan Tadic | Ajax |
| Midfielder | Nemanja Gudelj | Sevilla |
| Midfielder | Filip Kostic | Juventus |
| Midfielder | Nemanja Maksimovic | Getafe |
| Midfielder | Filip Duricic | Sampdoria |
| Midfielder | Nemanja Radonjic | Torino |
| Midfielder | Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | Lazio |
| Midfielder | Sasa Lukic | Torino |
| Midfielder | Andrija Zivkovic | PAOK |
| Midfielder | Uros Racic | Braga |
| Midfielder | Ivan Ilic | Hellas Verona |
| Midfielder | Darko Lazovic | Hellas Verona |
| Forward | Aleksander Mitrovic | Fulham |
| Forward | Luka Jovic | Fiorentina |
| Forward | Dusan Vlahovic | Juventus |
| Forward | Nemanja Radonjic | Marseille |
Switzerland
- FIFA Rank: 15th
- Qualification: Group C winners in UEFA qualifying
- Previous World Cup appearances: 11
- Best finish: Quarterfinals (1934, 1938, 1954)
- Odds to win group: +550
- Odds to make knockout stage: +100
- Odds to win World Cup: +8000
Switzerland is rounding into form heading toward Qatar, which is quite promising considering they outscored opponents 15-2 during qualifying. They’re not as attacking-heavy as they used to be under Vladimir Petkovic, but Murat Yakin has instilled a hard-working system that features a talented midfield as the engine.
X-Factor: Granit Xhaka Switzerland’s most important midfielder and captain, Xhaka has been instrumental in Arsenal’s fast start in the Premier League. He’s had a hand in six goals in 14 league matches for the Gunners and will look to create a solid partnership with Remo Freuler to help direct La Nati’s play.
Switzerland World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Yan Sommer | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Goalkeeper | Gregor Kobel | Borussia Dortmund |
| Goalkeeper | Phillipp Kohn | RB Salzburg |
| Goalkeeper | Jonas Omlin | Montpellier |
| Defender | Fabian Schar | Newcastle United |
| Defender | Manuel Akanji | Manchester City |
| Defender | Ricardo Rodriguez | Torino |
| Defender | Nico Elvedi | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Defender | Silvan Widmer | Mainz |
| Defender | Eray Comert | Valencia |
| Midfielder | Granit Xhaka | Arsenal |
| Midfielder | Remo Freuler | Nottingham Forest |
| Midfielder | Fabian Frei | Basel |
| Midfielder | Denis Zakaria | Chelsea |
| Midfielder | Djibril Sow | Frankfurt |
| Midfielder | Renato Steffen | Lugano |
| Midfielder | Michel Aebischer | Bologna |
| Midfielder | Ardon Jashari | Luzern |
| Midfielder | Fabian Rieder | Young Boys |
| Midfielder | Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire |
| Midfielder | Ruben Vargas | Augsburg |
| Midfielder | Edimilson Fernandes | Mainz |
| Forward | Noah Okafor | RB Salzburg |
| Forward | Christian Fassnacht | Young Boys |
| Forward | Haris Seferovic | Galatasaray |
| Forward | Breel Embolo | Monaco |
*Odds courtesy of DraftKings
2022 World Cup Group G schedule
| Date | Match | Time | TV |
| Thursday, Nov. 24 | Switzerland v. Cameroon | 5 AM | FS1 |
| Thursday, Nov. 24 | Brazil v. Serbia | 2 PM | FOX |
| Monday, Nov. 28 | Cameroon v. Serbia | 5 AM | FS1 |
| Saturday, Nov. 26 | Brazil v. Switzerland | 11 AM | FOX |
| Friday, Dec. 2 | Serbia v. Switzerland | 2 PM | FS1 |
| Friday, Dec. 2 | Cameroon v. Brazil | 2 PM | FOX |
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