World Cup Group G: What do Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon need to qualify?

Richarlison scored a screamer against Serbia
Richarlison scored a screamer against Serbia / Markus Gilliar - GES Sportfoto/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit

Group G at the World Cup has thrown up some seriously entertaining spectacles so far.

Brazil are the frontrunners to win the group, with Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia all hopeful of joining the Selecao in the last 16.

Here's what each side needs to go through.


Brazil

Brazil at the World Cup so far

Brazil made a winning start to their World Cup campaign as they eventually saw off a resilient Serbia side.

They were made to wait until the 62nd minute for their opener as striker Richarlison bundled home after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved Vinicius Junior's strike.

The Tottenham striker made sure of the victory 11 minutes later, popping the ball up and connecting with a brilliant acrobatic finish for one of the goals of the tournament so far.

Brazil were made to work in their next game against Switzerland, and the absence of Neymar Jr definitely didn't help. The found a way, though, with Casemiro bagging the winner in a 1-0 win.

What do Brazil need?

Brazil have already qualified for the knockout stage and they will almost certainly win the group too. A draw against Cameroon will make absolutely sure, or Switzerland failing to beat Serbia.


Serbia

Serbia at the World Cup so far

A touted dark horse before the tournament began, Serbia have had a mixed World Cup so far.

They were spirited but ultimately lacked quality against Brazil as the Selecao eventually pulled away courtesy of two strikes from Richarlison.

They then spurned a 3-1 lead against Cameroon to draw 3-3 in what was a major dent to their knockout stage hopes. Jean-Charles Castelletto had given the African side the lead but two quick strikes from Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had Serbia 2-1 up at half time.

Aleksandar Mitrovic grabbed his first goal at this World Cup to make it 3-1, but Vincent Aboubakar's outrageous chip halved the deficit before the in-form Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting equalised from Aboubakar's pass.

What do Serbia need?

Serbia sit bottom of Group G knowing only a victory in their final game will send them through.

Brazil and Switzerland face off later on Monday. The Serbians will be hoping the Selecao pick up the victory as that would mean three points of their own against the Swiss would see Serbia leapfrog their European rivals into second.

They would also need Brazil to avoid defeat at Cameroon.


Switzerland

Switzerland at the World Cup so far

Switzerland have historically struggled at World Cups. However, they've escaped the group stage in three of their last four attempts and made the best possible start to their 2022 campaign by beating Cameroon.

Breel Embolo scored the only goal of the game against his country of birth to take Switzerland into second, behind Brazil on goal difference.

They were unfortunate in their second game against Brazil and gave a decent account of themselves for the most-part. Brazil punished them for some bad decisions in the final third with a late Casemiro goal settling it.

What do Switzerland need?

Despite the defeat, qualification is still firmly in Switzerland's own hands. A win in their final game against Serbia will do it. A draw will also be enough as long as Cameroon don't pull off a major shock and beat Brazil.


Cameroon

Cameroon at the World Cup so far

Cameroon couldn't muster enough attacking quality to trouble Switzerland, drawing a blank in their 1-0 loss to begin their campaign.

However, the Indomitable Lions showed some real heart to earn a point against Serbia having gone 3-1 down. Strikes from Aboubakar and Choupo-Moting kept their World Cup hopes alive.

What do Cameroon need?

Cameroon are third in the group and face the mammoth task of needing to beat Brazil in their final game to go through. The exact stipulations will then be dependent upon the result in the Switzerland versus Serbia game with goal difference and goals scored likely coming into play.

If Switzerland beat Serbia, though, Cameroon will go out regardless of their own result.