Brazil vs. Serbia Betting Tips: World Cup 2022 favourites Brazil get campaign underway

With the World Cup in full swing, on Thursday we head to Group G where Switzerland face Cameroon at 10am, then Brazil lock horns with Serbia in the late kick-off at 7pm on BBC 1. Tipster Dean Woodward has previewed the match and picked out a couple of his best bets...

Five time world champions Brazil take to the stage in their opening group match against Serbia, looking to repeat the group stage of the 2018 World Cup where they brushed them aside in a 2-0 victory.

With Argentina losing in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history against Saudi Arabia, Brazil have shortened even further in the outright market into 3/1, with France now second favourites at 7/1

Brazil manager, Tite, looks to have a full squad to choose from with the minor problems being Antony, Bruno Guimaraes and Alex Telles, who all look to have recovered in time for the opening fixture.

With a host of attacking talent, it's likely Neymar is deployed in the number ten role, with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha likely to be given the nod to play either side. If Richarlison is fully fit, he is expected to start up top although lacking minutes this season, Jesus will be disappointed if he misses out.

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Optimism is high in the Serbian camp that they can qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history since gaining independence in 1990.

Three group stage exits in a row will be put in the past if they can manage to progress here, with Serbia around 11/10 to progress, the prices are neck and neck with Switzerland who are a shade of odds on.

A huge array of attacking talent in this Serbian side that will still look full of goals even without star man Aleksandar Mitrovic who has not fully recovered for their opener with Brazil.

They will be hoping he is fit for the remainder of their group games which could be pivotal in their qualification chances. They do have top-quality in the forward areas with Dusan Vlahovic and Luka Jovic expected to start, with a top class playmaker in Dusan Tadic sitting in behind them. 

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Sandro; Casemiro, Paqueta; Raphinha, Neymar, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison

Serbia possible starting lineup:
V. Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, S. Mitrovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Gudelj, S. Milinkovic-Savic, Kostic; Tadic; Vlahovic, Jovic

Aleksander Mitrovic being sidelined means the Juventus man, Dusan Vlahovic is guaranteed to start and his shot price looks very generous.

In Serie A this season he has registered 31 shots in 10 matches for the Old Lady, with similar figures for his national side.

In the Nations League and World Cup Qualifications, Vlahovic has registered an identical 31 shots in just nine starts with an increased average of 3.44 per game.

Albeit this is much tougher opposition in Brazil who are favourites for the Jules Rimet, 4/5 holds some value for Vlahovic to have over 1.5 shots.

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With the PSG centre-back Marquinhos set to start alongside Thiago Silva against Serbia on Thursday, the pass market could be the way to get a short-priced Brazil onside. 

70 passes is a line that is being cleared quite often this World Cup, with many underdogs refraining from pressing high up the pitch.

With the stakes so high, teams are looking to defend and counter in the tougher games, trying to keep the game as tight as possible. 70 is a pass line that the Brazilian centre-back has cleared often of late, 

Nine of his last 19 matches have seen him clear this 70 line (47%) and priced at 21/10 (32%) there looks to be some value in that price.