World Cup 2022: Serbia and Switzerland in Group G Shootout 

Serbia vs Switzerland

Brazil are on their way through to the World Cup 2022 Round of 16, with two wins from two and they will likely top Group G after meeting Cameroon on Friday night.

And that leaves the Selecaos’ two early victims, Serbia and Switzerland, fighting for second place and a shot at the knockouts. The winner of their meeting will join Brazil, the loser will say goodbye to Qatar. This clash, World Cup: Serbia vs Switzerland might not be the most glamorous of ties but it’s certainly a fascinating one between the second and fourth placed teams in the group.

Murat Yakin’s Switzerland have the advantage, having beaten Cameroon, while Serbia could only draw with the Africans and that means a draw for the Swiss will probably be enough to see them through while Dragon Stojkovic’s Serbia needs all three points.

Of course, Cameroon can still qualify if they beat Brazil and this result helps them out, but those are two big ‘Ifs’ and I reckon the second qualifier will come from this bout.   

Talking Points

Serbia must forget Cameroon comeback

A 2-0 loss to Brazil in their opening match was not unexpected and when Serbia led 3-1 against Cameroon early in the second half they must have though the damage had been repaired. The Indomitable Lions went ahead early in the game but when defender Strahinja Pavlovic levelled for Serbia the tide turned and soon enough they were two goals to the good, but they failed to hang on as Cameroon scored twice in four minutes.

It was a huge missed opportunity but Serbia must put that behind them and get on the front foot against their next opponents. Aleksandar Mitrovic has made his name in the Premier League this season after firing Fulham to the top flight of English football and he will lead the Serbian assault. Mitrovic is a proper centre forward with his powerful heading, clinical finishes and bustling all round game. He’s scored 51 goals in 78 games for his country and bagged Serbia’s third in the draw with Cameroon. 

Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic also scored and he will be a key man in the midfield battle, up against Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka, while Ajax striker Dusan Tadic and winger Andrija Zivkovic, who made two assists against the Lions, will provide more creativity.

Serbia need goals and they have the players to score them. 

Switzerland’s rearguard is among the best  

A 1-0 victory over Cameroon and a 1-0 defeat to Brazil were pretty much what you’d expect from this rock solid Switzerland side and I don’t expect the Serbia vs Switzerland highlights to be packed with goals. Brazil needed an 83^rd minute wonder strike from Casemiro to break down the Swiss defence, while Yakin’s side had just seven shots in their victory over Cameroon and conceded only eight. Borussia Monchengladbach centre back Nico Elvedi, alongside Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji, is central in a formidable defensive unit while Yann Sommer is a high class operator in the nets

Switzerland are captained by Xhaka who has been reborn this season at Arsenal and is in the form of his life, contributing more to the attack while still being one of the best defensive midfielders in European football. His duel with Milinkovic-Savic will be a key battle in the outcome of this match.

Breel Embolo scored the winner over Cameroon and he will be a threat on the break, while the quick footed Xherdan Shaqiri still has a match winning moment in his locker.  

History

These two teams met at the group stage of the 2018 World Cup and Switzerland came out on top with a dramatic late winner from Shaqiri. Mitrovic had given the Serbs an early lead before Xhaka levelled with a brilliant 25 yard strike shortly after half time, and it stayed at 1-1 until the 90^th minute when Shaqiri struck. 

The pre-match Serbia vs Switzerland betting odds point to a tight game and, in terms of recent form, there is little to choose between the two teams. Serbia have won three, drawn two and lost one of the last six, while Switzerland have won four and lost two. 

Betting Tip

Serbia are marginal favourites, at SBOTOP odds of 2.58, with the Swiss at 2.75 and the draw is at 3.15. I think we’ll see an attack versus defence game here with Serbia chasing a win and Switzerland trying to hit their opponents on the counter.

The most likely score outcome is a 1-1 draw, at 5.20, with 1-0 to Serbia coming in second at 7.00. A 2-1 win to Serbia is priced at 8.50 and if you fancy a repeat of the 2-1 to Switzerland; that will pay handsomely at 10.50.

 

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