Brazil starts journey to first World Cup title since 2002 against Serbia

Five-time world champions Brazil will start their bid to win the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002 with a clash against Serbia on Thursday.

Brazil and Serbia were in the same group at the last World Cup in Russia, with the Samba Boys emerging 2-0 winners.

The team then and for Thursday looks almost totally different, with a few faces retaining their spots in the national team.

Brazil is unbeaten since their Copa America final loss to Argentina in the summer of 2021, and they are on a seven-match winning streak that stretches back to February.

The Europeans are also unbeaten since their 1-0 deficit to Norway in June and have gone six matches unbeaten, winning five and a single draw.

Both teams do not have many injury problems to worry about and have the full caliber of players to call on, except for the exceptions of players that were dropped back home for the Mundial.

However, they will not be the only match to see on Thursday as there are four games on display; the first game of the day will see Cameroon face Switzerland, Uruguay will play South Korea, Portugal will face Ghana before Brazil and Serbia will go head-to-head.

On Wednesday, Morocco and Croatia played out a 0-0 draw, while Germany was shocked with a 2:1 loss to Japan despite going ahead courtesy of an Ilkay Gundogan first-half penalty.

Japan scored two late goals to secure a shock 2-1 win. Meanwhile, Spain showed their dominance in a 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica, Costa Rica’s joint biggest defeat.

BRAZIL’S WORLD CUP SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton.
Defenders: Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Alex Telles, Bremer, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva.
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Fred, Lucas Paqueta.
Forwards: Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar, Pedro, Raphinha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr.