Brazil v Serbia - International Football Friendly Preview

Brazil will kick-off their native World Cup with the first fixture of the 2014 iteration of the biggest sporting event in the world just over a week from now, and conclude their preparations with this fixture against Serbia. The friendly preparations of Brazil have been going rather well, which is to be expected given the quality of their side, and the fact that they’ve been engaging in essentially a worldwide tour of friendlies while most teams have been qualifying.

They began their World Cup warm-up by giving Panama a 4-0 pummelling, and at this point in time it is hard to see them being anything other than one of the major contenders for ultimate victory in the World Cup. This Brazilian side is not quite as flair packed as some of those in the past, but given the way that they dismantled Panama in their previous friendly, there are plenty of goals in this team. Aside from that, they have an absolutely outstanding defence, and it is here, surprisingly, that their strength arguably lies.

The current Serbian team missed out on qualification for the World Cup, having been placed in a tricky group including local rivals Croatia. But they have a more than capable side, including top class players such as Chelsea`s Nemanja Matić and Branislav Ivanović, Aleksandar Kolarov of Manchester City and former Manchester United winger Zoran Tošić. Certainly they are a team that Brazil would be expected to beat, but also one that will provide a reasonably stern test given how close to the World Cup this fixture will take place.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the win over Panama was that Neymar looked at his best – as he usually is in a yellow shirt – which will be of comfort to coach Phil Scolari given the fact that the forward has not had the best of seasons for Barcelona. If Brazil have a weakness it is that they are hugely dependent on Neymar, perhaps more so than any other nation is on any individual player. Brazil Neymar to produce his best in the World Cup if they are to have any realistic chance of winning it. The good news for Brazil is...he consistently has when playing for the national team.

However, Modern football dictates that the best sides today have to be meld defence and attack. Thus, perhaps the day of mercurial Brazilian football are over, but this is still an extremely effective contemporary football team. I can`t see Serbia getting much change out of them, as they don`t exactly have the most impressive forward line, and Brazil should pick up another morale boosting win here ahead of the World Cup.

But I don`t think they will be wasting energy ahead of their first group game, so I see this being a routine 2-0 win for the World Cup`s host nation.

Selections: Safe Bet - Brazil to win (1/4 with BetVictor), Value Bet - Brazil 2 - 0 Serbia (13/2 with paddy Power)

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04/06/2014     © Frixo 2026