World Cup Group G Recap

Andrew Beasley Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

Group G at the World Cup contained the tournament favorites, Brazil. They were joined by Cameroon, Serbia and Switzerland. Each team plays the others once, with the six matches in the section taking place from November 24 to December 2. The top two teams in the group, Brazil and Switzerland, advance to the knockout phase, with the other two on the next plane home.

Brazil are the top seeds for the World Cup and that is entirely justified. They have been in the top three of the Rankings since 2018 so have shown tremendous consistency. As much as all countries love the prestige of facing Brazil, there were far easier teams to draw.

The third weakest team in Pot 2 (at least according to the rankings), Switzerland, would’ve been hoping for a kinder opponent from the top pot. However, they did reasonably well from the lower seeds and are on their way through the knockout stages.

Serbia were the third seeds in Group G, standing 25^th in the rankings at the time of the draw. On the average rankings of the four teams in each section, this is the third hardest group. In an alternate universe they could’ve got a draw which would see them have a much better chance of finishing in the top two, but sadly they were knocked out by the Swiss.

Cameroon were the highest ranked side In Pot 4 when the draw was conducted, but now they're out of the tournament.

CONTENTS

World Cup Group G - Final Standings

Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	3	2	0	1	3	1	+2	6
Switzerland	3	2	0	1	4	3	+1	6
Cameroon	3	1	1	1	4	4	0	4
Serbia	3	0	1	2	5	8	-3	1

Top 2 teams advanced to knockout stage

Matches which involve Brazil are always among the most alluring to neutral fans at any World Cup. However, without a traditional rival to face and a routine qualification looking likely, the interest level may be lower for their three Group E fixtures.

The battle between Serbia and Switzerland to take the other qualification spot looked likely to be close until the Swiss cinched it in the 49th minute.

World Cup Group G Odds

Team	Group Winner	Qualify From Group
Brazil	N/A	N/A
Switzerland	+6600	-200
Serbia	N/A	+150
Cameroon	N/A	+1600

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

Brazil might have topped the rankings, but the draw means they don’t have the shortest odds to qualify of any side in Qatar. Nonetheless, at -1400 (behind only Argentina, England and France), the bookmakers had no doubt Tite’s side will reach the knockout phase, and they were right.

The odds were pretty on the money with Serbia a close underdog, as they nearly went into overtime before Freuler's 49th minute goal. Though Cameroon beat Brazil, they still didn't make enough points overall to advance.

Below was our initial analysis/coverage of the Group before the start of the World Cup.

World Cup Group G Draw

Brazil

Brazil are the most successful nation in the history of the World Cup with five previous tournament victories: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

However, they have only been to one semi-final since their last triumph. Teams from western Europe have proved their undoing in the last four editions too. Brazil have been knocked out by France, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium in that period, falling at the quarter-finals three times.

It’s unlikely they will be knocked out in the Group Stage by the combined efforts of European sides Serbia and Switzerland. Not since 1966 have the Seleção fallen at the first hurdle. The seedings imply they will face Spain in the last eight, though, so mainland Europe could put paid to their hopes once again.

Brazil breezed through qualifying, as they usually do, with 14 wins from their 17 matches and only five goals conceded (prior to their rearranged match with Argentina in September).

Neymar was undoubtedly their MVP in qualification. He topped the assist chart for CONMEBOL, with eight, and scored the same number to trail only Marcelo Moreno in the goal standings. Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison contributed six goals, while Bruno Guimares was their second-best man for assists.

With two of the best goalkeepers in the world to pick from (Alisson Becker and Ederson), Brazil are strong all over the field.

Switzerland

Switzerland are very much a ‘Round of 16’ team. That was the point they went out in four of their last five appearances at the World Cup. Their last quarter-final occurred way back in 1954, when they were on home turf.

However, they did make the last eight at the European Championship last year, knocking France out in the process. Their form in qualifying also ensured Italy could only make the play-offs, in which they were eliminated.

The Swiss usually focus on keeping games tight. Indeed, they were knocked out in the first knockout round at the 2006 World Cup despite not conceding a goal in their four matches. Switzerland allowed just two opposition goals in their eight qualification matches and didn’t concede once in their four at home.

At the last Euros, Haris Seferovic and Xherdan Shaqiri scored three goals apiece. While 12 of their players netted in qualification, only two got more than one and Breel Embolo was top with just three.

Switzerland’s matches are unlikely to be too entertaining but they should get through this group. They are narrow favourites to finish second behind Brazil, perhaps thanks to their 2-1 victory over Serbia at the last World Cup.

Serbia

Serbia have had something of an odd tournament record in the last 14 years. They have not qualified for any of the European Championships in that time, but this will be their third World Cup in that period.

However, in both 2010 and 2018 they went home after securing one win and two defeats in the Group Stage. They could easily maintain that record in Qatar. Serbia have lost both previous games with Brazil, their one prior match against the Swiss, but won a friendly against Cameroon back in 2010.

Dragan Stojkovic’s side will be buoyed by their impressive form in qualification. They were unbeaten in their eight matches, winning six of them. Most impressively, they won in Portugal in the final game. That ensured they secured top spot in Group A, while condemning their hosts to the play-offs.

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a 90^th minute winner in that game, his eighth in qualifying. Only Harry Kane, Memphis Depay and Robert Lewandowski netted more across Europe. Mitrovic was aided by Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, with the pair accounting for two-thirds of Serbia’s goals in qualification.

Their undoing will be in defence. Only once did they keep a clean sheet in their eight qualifiers. As that came against Luxembourg, ranked 93^rd in the world, their opponents in Qatar should all register on the score sheet. Expect both teams to score in their matches.

Cameroon

Soccer fans of a certain age will always hold a soft spot for Cameroon. The first match at Italia 90 saw them defeat defending champions Argentina, finishing with nine men thanks to their aggressive style. With the goals of the corner flag dancing Roger Milla, they became the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals.

They have not got close to matching that achievement in the intervening 32 years, though, going out at the Group Stage the last five times they have qualified. To make matters worse, Cameroon have lost their last seven matches at finals, dating back to 2002.

They have very little history against their Group E opponents. Cameroon have never faced Switzerland, have one match (a loss) against Serbia and have suffered defeat in five of their six against Brazil.Rigobert Song’s side have Lyon striker Karl Toko Ekambi to thank most for their place in Qatar. He scored a 124^th minute goal to settle the play-off with Algeria on away goals. The 30-year-old has hit double figures for league goals in four of the last five seasons, so carries a constant threat. Cameroon’s slim hopes will rest on the shoulders of him and Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

World Cup Group G Favorites

Brazil might not hold the shortest price to qualify from the Group Stage in Qatar, but no team can beat them when it comes to winning their section. Both they and England are -350, and fully expected to finish first.

As the last World Cup Group Stage Brazil didn’t top was in the second phase in 1982, why argue against history? A bet on them would be almost pointless but it should pay out at least.

Such is their expected dominance that Switzerland are the longest priced second favourite in any of the eight groups. However, as they drew with Brazil at the last World Cup and won the previous friendly between the teams, perhaps they are worth a look at +600?

As with the qualification odds, Serbia (at +650) are very close to the Swiss. They don’t have as strong a record for getting out of groups, much less topping them, so the gap is probably wider in reality.

Cameroon shocked the world by topping their group which included a South American powerhouse in 1990. They are +1200 to repeat that feat, but as much as they finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations this year, they don’t have the pedigree to outdo Brazil.

Teams That Advance From World Cup Group G

The teams who qualify from Group G will be paired against the top two from Group H. The odds make clear that this is expected to be Portugal and Uruguay, with Ghana and Korea Republic given little hope of disrupting the seeding.

The most likely Round of 16 fixtures will therefore be Brazil against their South American rivals Uruguay on December 5, with Portugal vs. Switzerland the day after. From there, the seedings imply Spain and Belgium will await in the respective quarter-finals. The winners of Group E look to have a far milder route forward than the runners-up will have.

World Cup Group G FAQ

What are the World Cup groups?

There are eight groups in the World Cup. Group A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.

How many teams will there be in Qatar in 2022?

There will be 32 teams taking part in the World Cup, with them initially split into eight groups of four. Aside from Italy, who failed to qualify, the other seven previous champions will be in Qatar.

Will there be a first-time winner?

The leading six teams in the outright betting for the World Cup are past champions. This explains why ‘no’ is -278 in the First Time Winner market, where ‘yes’ is +188.

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Andrew Beasley

Andrew Beasley is a freelance football writer who uses his statistical knowledge and insight of soccer to provide betting previews, strategy articles and podcasts for a variety of websites and bookmakers. Primarily focussed on the EPL, if the data is available for another league, he’ll manage to find an edge somewhere.Andrew was also part of the victorious team in season 15 of the BBC quiz show Only Connect. He’s good at spotting sequences and connections in soccer too. More from Andrew Beasley