WORLD CUP 2022 PROFILES – GROUP G
SERBIA
6/1 To Win Group | 90/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 21
How They Qualified
Came top of Group A after remaining unbeaten in eight matches with Euro 2016 winners Portugal having to settle for second place.
Coach
Dragan Stojkovic – The 57-year-old had a four-year spell in China with Guangzhou before being named Serbia boss last year. He has led the Eagles to just three defeats in 20 matches – and two of those were in friendlies.
Key Player
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – The Lazio star provides quality both in and out of possession as well as a guaranteed goal threat both with his feet and his head. If Serbia are to fulfil their potential at the World Cup, don’t be surprised if he is at the heart of it.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Marko Dmitrovic, Predrag Rajkovic, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic
Defenders: Stefan Mitrovic, Nikola Milenkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Milos Veljkovic, Filip Mladenovic, Strahinja Erakovic, Srdjan Babic
Midfielders: Nemanja Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic, Marko Grujic, Filip Kostic, Uros Racic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Ivan Ilic, Andrija Zivkovic, Darko Lazovic
Forwards: Dusan Tadic, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Filip Djuricic, Luka Jovic, Nemanja Radonjic
CAMEROON
14/1 To Win Group | 250/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 43
How They Qualified
Sealed the fifth and final African World Cup qualification slot in dramatic style, defeating Algeria 2-1 after extra time at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida to take the tie on away goals.
Coach
Rigobert Song – The 46-year-old is among Africa’s most decorated footballers, competing at three World Cup finals and a record eight Africa Cup of Nations finals tournaments, winning two, as he amassed 135 caps for Cameroon. But his coaching career has been restricted to the Cameroon under-23 team, with whom he failed to qualify for the last Olympics in Tokyo. After being named the new coach in March, he took charge of Cameroon’s decisive two playoff qualifiers.
Key Player
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – The 33-year-old former Stoke City striker has been in superb form for Bayern this season, recording 10 goals and three assists in 14 appearances across all competitions — he has also scored nine goals in his past seven outings.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Devis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu
Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Enzo Ebosse, Collins Fai, Olivier Mbaizo, Nouhou Tolo, Nicolas Nkoulou, Christopher Wooh
Midfielders: Olivier Ntcham, Gael Ondoua, Martin Hongla, Pierre Kunde, Samuel Oum Gouet, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Jerome Ngom
Forwards: Nicolas Ngamaleu, Christian Bassogog, Bryan Mbeumo, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Jean-Pierre Nsame, Vincent Aboubakar, Karl Toko-Ekambi, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Souaibou Marou
BRAZIL
4/10 To Win Group | 4/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 1
How They Qualified
Tite’s team finished top of CONMEBOL qualifying, going 17 games unbeaten in the campaign, as Neymar led the team with eight goals followed by Richarlison with six.
Coach
Tite – The 61-year-old has been in charge since 2016 and that has given Brazil a sense of continuity even as the squad has evolved over the last six years. His players have clear roles and responsibilities and unlike some Selecao head coaches of the past, he has full commitment from his squad. Before becoming national coach, Tite won the Copa Libertadores and two Brazilian titles with Corinthians. He also led them to victory over Chelsea in the 2012 Club World Cup final.
Key Player
Neymar – The PSG star is often at the center of one controversy or another, but his record for Brazil has always been impeccable. The 30-year-old forward comes into the World Cup with six career goals in the competition, but he can truly make his mark on the goalscoring charts in Qatar with three more goals, which will see him pass Pele (77 goals) as Brazil’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton.
Defenders: Dani Alves, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Alex Telles, Bremer, Eder Militao, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva.
Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Everton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Fred, Lucas Paqueta.
Forwards: Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar, Pedro, Raphinha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.
SWITZERLAND
9/2 To Win Group | 100/1 To Win Tournament | FIFA Ranking: 15
How They Qualified
Earned their ticket to Qatar on the strength of an eight-match unbeaten run through UEFA qualifying Group C that also consisted of Italy, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. The Swiss topped the group with 18 points from five wins and three draws.
Coach
Murat Yakin – The 48-year-old, who was appointed in August last year to succeed Vladimir Petkovic, has Turkish roots, was a defender who won 49 caps for Switzerland and notably played for Grasshopper and Basel.
Key Player
Granit Xhaka – The 30-year-old in-form Arsenal midfielder is the leader of this fearless Swiss side and the driving force of his team’s midfield. He has featured in every one of their games at the last two World Cup finals.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Yann Sommer, Jonas Omlin, Philipp Kohn
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Eray Comert, Nico Elvedi, Fabian Schar, Silvan Widmer, Ricardo Rodriguez, Edimilson Fernandes
Midfielders: Michel Aebischer, Xherdan Shaqiri, Renato Steffen, Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria, Fabian Frei, Remo Freuler, Noah Okafor, Fabian Rieder, Ardon Jashari
Forwards: Breel Embolo, Ruben Vargas, Djibril Sow, Haris Seferovic, Christian Fassnacht