Five-time champions Brazil are keeping their cards close to their chest under the spotlight of being the odds-on favorites as they prepare to face Serbia in their World Cup Group G opener on Thursday.

The pressure is on as Brazil aim for a record extending sixth title with a squad loaded with talent but full of young players, with 16 of them making their World Cup debut.

A new generation of talented youngsters like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Eder Militao, Bruno Guimaraes and Antony, among others, have emerged on the elite stage of European club football.

Paring the young guns with an in-form Neymar have made Brazil a juggernaut, winning 37 of the 50 games played since their 2018 World Cup quarter-finals loss to Belgium in Russia.

Tite has his side unleashed as with the players at his disposal, he has on regular basis transitioned from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-2-4 formation which is reminiscent of some of the greatest Brazil sides.

The Selecao front-line is expected to light up their progress and a robust Casemiro along with Fred in midfield will be in charge to break it up and rearguard the back four.

But Tite's men face a well-drilled Serbia who come into the World Cup on the back of terrific form. They are resilient and have considerable quality particularly in the attacking side of things.

Serbia talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic is likely to sit on the bench for the opener but an able Luka Jovic and an adept Vlahovic will lead the line with Dusan Tadic in behind as the number 10.

When?

25th November, 01:00 am, Bangladesh time

Where?

Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar

Head-to-head

Matches 2

Brazil 2

Serbia 0

Key Stats

* Brazil have won the World Cup five times and are pre-tournament favourites to win a record-extending sixth title.

* Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but they have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002.

* Neymar was Brazil's top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with eight goals as they qualified for the tournament without losing a single game.

* Aleksandar Mitrovic, Serbia's all-time top scorer with 50 goals, also netted eight times in the World Cup qualifiers but is an injury doubt for the group opener.

* Serbia were also unbeaten in their qualifying campaign where they topped the group with a 90th-minute winner from Mitrovic against Portugal in their final game to seal automatic qualification.

* Serbia have never gone past the group stage since they split from Montenegro in 2006.

Previous meetings:

* Brazil and Serbia also met each other in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, with the South American team winning 2-0 after Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored.

* They have met each other only one other time previously with Brazil winning 1-0 in a friendly in 2014.

Prediction: Brazil 3-1 Serbia

Probable lineups:

Brazil: (4-2-3-1) Alisson (GK), Telles, T.Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo, Casemiro, Fred, Paqueta, Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison

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

Following is a statbox on Brazil 

FIFA Ranking: 1

Odds: 4-1

Previous tournaments:

Favourites Brazil are the only country to appear in every World Cup and the only nation to win the tournament five times. After losing at home in the final match in 1950 they won back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962 and then made it three in Mexico in 1970 with what many consider to be the greatest team of all time. After a 24-year drought, they won again in 1994 with a brilliant Romario starring. Ronaldo took over the baton and led Brazil to two consecutive finals, losing to France in 1998 but winning the title in Japan in 2002. Since then they have disappointed, losing in the quarter-finals in 2010 and 2018, with their best result being reaching the semi-final in 2014 only to get humiliated at home with a 7-1 to Germany.

How they qualified:

Brazil qualified easily on top of the South America standings, unbeaten with 14 wins in 17 games, finishing on 45 points, six ahead of second placed Argentina. They scored 40 goals and conceded five.

Form guide:

Brazil have been outstanding under Tite, having lost only one competitive game since being knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in the quarter-finals against Belgium, although it was a tough loss against rivals Argentina in the Copa America final in Maracana in 2021. Those are the only two defeats Tite has suffered in official competitions in six years as Brazil coach.

Following is a statbox on Serbia 

FIFA Ranking: 21

Odds: 66-1

Previous tournaments:

Serbia have appeared in two World Cup tournaments plus one as Serbia & Montenegro and nine as part of Yugoslavia, whose best performance was fourth place in 1930 and 1962. Yugoslavia also reached three quarter-finals, the last time in 1990 when they lost on penalties to Argentina. They have not made it past the group stage since 1998.

How they qualified:

Serbia clinched an automatic berth in Qatar with a comeback 2-1 win over Portugal in their last Group A qualifying match. Overall, they won six games and drew two, sending second-placed Portugal to the playoffs.

Form guide:

Serbia recorded a win and a loss in March friendlies against in-form Hungary and Denmark respectively. They then finished top of their group in the Nations League, sealing promotion to top-tier League A with a 2-0 away win over Norway with goals from impressive strike duo Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic.