Brazil starts Qatar Cup playing Serbia and seeks nation´s sixth title

Brazil's journey seeking its sixth title begins today (Nov. 24). Tite's team will face Serbia, in Lusail Stadium, in the first round of Group G of the World Cup, starting at 4 p.m. (Brasilia time).

Brazilians and Serbs meet again in a World Cup four years after facing each other in the first round of the previous edition, in Russia. On that occasion, the Brazilian team won 2-0, with goals scored by defender Thiago Silva (part of the current national team) and midfielder Paulinho.

Brazil thrashed Tunisia 5-1 at Parc des Princes in Paris (France) on September 27, ending the team's preparation cycle, which had begun on July 7, 2018, one day after the 2-1 loss to Belgium in the quarterfinals of the Russian Cup. In this preparation period 37 wins, ten draws, and three setbacks were recorded, with an 80.6 percent success rate, and the 2019 Copa America title, which was won on green and yellow soil.

Tite observed 87 players in the cycle, 63 of whom took the field. However, it was in the final stretch of the journey to Qatar that the Brazilian coach came to the conclusion of the ideal team, or something close to it, with the bet on new names like midfielder Lucas Paquetá and forwards Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Antony and Rodrygo, under the baton of Neymar, in the star´s third World Cup.

At a press conference on Wednesday (23), Tite avoided confirming the line-up he will send to the field today (24), but he made it clear that the tactical variations are those known to the fans. The main doubt is whether the coach will choose Fred, Casemiro and Paquetá as midfielders (as he did in most recent games), or repeat the strategy adopted in the 3-0 victory over Ghana in Le Havre (France), last September 22, with Neymar in the role of main play articulator and an attacking trio ahead, with Vinícius Júnior starting alongside Raphinha and Richarlison.

Besides Serbia, Brazil will face Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.