Serbia dreams with giving the big bell of the group stage in the World Cup. A World Cup does not begin until Brazil makes its debut. It is not an exaggeration. The only team that has participated in all 22 championships since 1930. And the biggest, with five stars. Probably the group stage will be dominated by the Canarinha, although Serbia is a rocky team that arrives with a lot of gunpowder.
How does Brazil arrive? Euphoric, as always. Despite the disappointments it has suffered in the last four World Cups. Tite has already experienced the elimination in the quarterfinals in Russia in 2018. The only difficulty that the coach may have before the game is solving the equation of his nine forwards. And everything indicates that Richarlison, who was a doubt until the last minute to enter the list by his injury, is a starter up in the attack with Neymar and Raphinha. The Brazilian coach has warned of the offensive potential of his rival and we can not speak only about the strikers.
How does Serbia arrive? Serbia wants to finish being the worst European team in the World Cups, and the second worst in the world after Australia with seven defeats (only two wins) in their last four appearances, since 2006. With Vlahovic and Jovic in attack, it is a team that deserves respect, with the doubts of Mitrovic’s ankle that he will surely remain on the bench. Serbia’s most recent game was against weak Bahrain, which they won 5-1 with more difficulties than the final scoreline shows.
The game duel. With 30 years old, Neymar knows that this is his World Cup. The Brazilian is not only in his maturity stage but also in one of the most prolific. This season, his 15 goals in 20 games are not so surprising, otherwise his 11 assists. On the opposite side, Tadic, Serbia’s number 10, is the footballer who depends forwards Jovic and Vlahovic receiving good balls to score.
By Fernando Perez (Football Analyst, Spain)
Bengali