Group G at World Cup 2022 features the favourites for the title Brazil, who headline a competitive group of nations including European representatives Switzerland and Serbia alongside African giants Cameroon.
Brazil
The Samba Boys of Brazil are the current number one nation in the world and are the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy with Pinnacle.
They can lean on a seemingly endless talent pool of players who compete at the top level both domestically and abroad, as they go in search of their sixth World Cup success in their history.
The nation’s continental rivalry with Argentina and Copa America 2021 defeat will provide the stimulus to wrestle back supremacy on the world stage. And with players like Neymar, Vinícius Júnior, Marquinhos, and new Manchester United signing Casemiro, they have the tools to do so.
Coach Tite should feel confident about winning Group G, but it is European nations France and Germany who could represent a greater test deeper into the tournament.
Switzerland
The Swiss team also went unbeaten during their World Cup qualification, with only two goals conceded. Coach Murat Yakin has built a team with defensive solidity but they also have the creative spark of Xherdan Shaqiri and Remo Freuler, and the pace of Breel Embolo in attack. They are a team with limitations but could upset a big contender in the knockout rounds.
The match against Serbia is likely to be decisive for Switzerland -- not only because it will be their last in the group, but because the two teams are on a similar level and likely to fight for second spot behind clear favourites Brazil.
Serbia
The match against Serbia is likely to be decisive for Switzerland -- not only because it will be their last in the group, but because the two teams are on a similar level and likely to fight for second spot behind clear favourites Brazil.
Beating Brazil may be a step too far, but victories over Switzerland and Cameroon could well seal them a place in the knockout rounds.
The team will rely on the guile of Dušan Tadić but do also boast Aleksandar Mitrović and Luka Jović in their forward line.
Cameroon
World Cup veterans Cameroon booked their place in the tournament for the first time since 2014 with a dramatic winner-takes-all aggregate victory over Algeria in March.
This came after finishing in third place at the 2021 AFCON tournament (which Cameroon hosted), with captain Vincent Aboubakar picking up the tournament’s Golden Boot award.
But the recent defeats by Uzbekistan and South Korea have brought the Lions down to earth and Rigobert Song will know that a strong start against Switzerland is imperative. Even if they're still alive by their final game against Brazil, Cameroon must still prove that they can hold their nerve to advance.
Prediction:
Brazil will, of course, be the team to beat but perhaps the other nations in Group G can become the story of the early stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.