Serbia
vs.
Brazil
By: Jason Green
Date: Wednesday June 27th
Match Odds: Brazil -210 / Serbia +600 / Draw +340
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
Serbia is still alive for the knockout phase, but to say they have a tough hill to climb would be an understatement. They are at three points in Group E with Brazil and Switzerland with Four points each. It is likely that the Serbs have to beat Brazil to advance, as the Swiss are heavy favorites in their last match facing winless Costa Rica. Likely, meaning it pretty much has to happen, as if they draw with Brazil Costa Rica have to beat Switzerland by more than two goals.
Brazil has not looked great in group play with a 1-1 draw in their opener facing Switzerland winning 2-0 in their last match facing Costa Rica. In their last match they were held scoreless in regulation time, but got the three points with the win scoring two goals in extra time.
While Neymar is the superstar for Brazil and he scored the 2nd goal in the last match Phillipe Coutinho has scored in each of the matches and has played great up front. Brazil had trouble cracking Costa Rica’s packed defensive backfield, but will they in this Game? Serbia cannot afford to simply sit back and defend, as they need three points from this match and have to press the issue on the attack.
Brazil’s goal they gave up in the 1-1 draw against Switzerland is the only one conceded in their last seven matches. They should win the time of possession battle, but their strong midfield also has to be wary of the counter attack, which may be the Serbs best chance to score.
Brazil, obviously, wants the top spot in the group and they will play their usual attacking style. From the back to the front they will push forward the whole match and their midfield has to disrupt the Brazilian passing not letting them dominate the ball.
Brazil is 2-1-2 all time facing Serbia with Four of the matches coming in the World Cup.
Overall, Brazil is unbeaten in their last 13 matches with nine wins and Four draws and in that span they have only conceded three goals. Can Aleksandar Mitrovic and company tickle the back of the net in this last group match? Interesting that in Serbia’s last six World Cup matches they have conceded a goal they have lost with their only two wins coming off clean sheets.
Serbia only had the ball 37% of the time facing Switzerland how will they fare against a better squad in Brazil? The Serbs have a chance and while a small one it is there, but taking down a giant in the last group match is a taller than tall hill to climb.
Last Three Matches
Serbia
6/9/18 Serbia 5 Bolivia 1 (Friendly)
6/17/18 Costa Rica 0 Serbia 1 (World Cup)
6/22/18 Serbia 1 Switzerland 2 (World Cup)
Brazil
6/10/18 Austria 0 Brazil 3 (Friendly)
6/17/18 Brazil1 Switzerland 1 (World Cup)
5/22/18 Brazil 2 Costa Rica 0 (World Cup)
Prediction: Brazil has been less than impressive in their two group matches, but with the top place in the group on the line they will show up in this match. Their attack will not be denied and will not have to face a more than stacked backfield like in their last match against Costa Rica. The Serbs may put up a good fight for a while, but Brazil will dominate and win this match by a score of 3-0.