Five-time World Cup champion Brazil begin their quest for a sixth trophy when they take on Serbia in the 2022 FIFA World Cup opener for both teams. The Thursday match will be the second of Group G, with Switzerland and Cameroon facing off earlier that day. Brazil are loaded with such stars as Neymar, Richarlison and Vini Jr., and the Brazilians are riding a 15-match unbeaten streak in World Cup group play that dates back to 1998. Meanwhile, Serbia have won just two of their last 10 World Cup matches, having not advanced past the group stage since 1998 in France.
Brazil vs. Serbia will kick off at 2 p.m. ET from Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar. The Brazilians, who are ranked No. 1 by FIFA, are -235 favorites (risk $235 to win $100), while the 21st-ranked Serbians are +650 underdogs per Caesars Sportsbook. The latest Serbia vs. Brazil odds have a draw priced at +340, and the over/under is 2.5 goals. Before making any Serbia vs. Brazil picks, make sure you check out the 2022 FIFA World Cup predictions, best bets and analysis from SportsLine soccer insider Jon Eimer.
Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, Eimer has covered the English Premier League, Serie A, the FA Cup and much more. He is an impressive 48-25-1 on his Premier League picks for SportsLine in 2022, for a profit of almost $1,800 for $100 bettors. He also went 20-12 on his World Cup qualifying picks, for a return of almost $600.
Now, Eimer has broken down the Brazil vs. Serbia matchup from all sides and just locked in his 2022 World Cup picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Eimer's picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for Serbia vs. Brazil:
- Brazil vs. Serbia spread: Brazil -1.5 (+122)
- Brazil vs. Serbia over/under: 2.5 goals
- Brazil vs. Serbia money line: Brazil -235, Serbia +650, Draw +340
- BRA: The Brazilians have a 26-2 goal advantage during their seven-match win streak
- SER: The Serbians have an 18-5 scoring edge on a current six-match unbeaten run
- Brazil vs. Serbia picks: See picks here
Why you should back Brazil
While Brazil certainly have a historical advantage over Serbia, recent results also favor the Samba Kings. They enter the 2022 FIFA World Cup undefeated this year, winning their last seven games. They are on a 15-match unbeaten streak and have not lost in over a calendar year. Thursday's match will also be a rematch from the 2018 World Cup group stage in which the Brazilians prevailed 2-0 in a match that Brazil dominated throughout, completing more passes (566) than Serbia even attempted (485).
While the Serbians possess a high-quality attack, they won't be at full strength with star striker Aleksandar Mitrović recovering from a foot injury. He hasn't played in nearly a month and will be limited if he can suit up at all. He has 50 international goals while the rest of Serbia's roster has 67 combined, so the team may look lost without the centerpiece of its attack. Brazil are not the side to be going up against at less than full strength, and the Brazilians are undefeated (9-1-0) in their last 10 World Cup openers.
Why you should back Serbia
The Serbs reached the quarterfinals in 1990 and the knockout round in 1998, and they enter the World Cup 2022 in excellent form. They finished atop their group at the UEFA Nations League, going 4-1-0 in their last five matches while outscoring their opponents 13-4. Serbia also won their qualifying group, topping a Portugal team that ranks among the world's top 10. They rallied from two goals down to draw with the Portuguese then pulled out a 2-1 victory in the second meeting, just over a year ago. All the pressure will be on Brazil, and the Serbs have the attacking talent to surprise anyone.
Mitrovic is the star and is joined by 22-year-old Dusan Vlahovic in a potent partnership. Mitrovic is fourth in the Premier League with nine goals after scoring a record 43 last season to help Fulham earn promotion. He has 50 goals in 76 matches for Serbia. Vlahovic has nine goals in 17 international matches and has seven in 15 games with Juventus this season. Captain Dusan Tadic is second in the Durch Eredivisie in shot-creating actions (92) for Ajax, while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic leads Serie A with seven assists for Lazio. There is plenty of quality in attack to pile up goals.
How to make Serbia vs. Brazil picks
Eimer has broken down Thursday's Serbia vs. Brazil match from every angle. He is taking the Over on the goal total and has two other confident best bets, including a plus-money play on one player to score a goal. He's only sharing his World Cup picks and analysis at SportsLine.
So where does all the betting value lie for Brazil vs. Serbia in Thursday's 2022 FIFA World Cup matchup? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for the Serbia vs. Brazil match, all from the soccer expert who went 20-12 on his World Cup qualifying picks, and find out
