SlipsTips Tips: Brazil vs Serbia

SlipsTips is back to share a selection from Thursday's batch of World Cup fixtures, with Brazil's opening match of this year's showpiece with Serbia under the microscope.

Brazil vs Serbia (Thursday, 19:00)

Brazil begin their quest to end a two-decade wait for World Cup glory when they square off with Serbia at the Lusail Stadium on Thursday night.

Tite’s team enter the tournament as outright favourites and they will see their maiden Group G match as a chance to lay down a marker.

Opening opponents Serbia have been touted as dark horses to emerge from a tough section that also includes Cameroon and Switzerland, but they could hardly have asked for a tougher first test.

Brazil backers will be offered a general 4/9 about the World Cup’s most successful side starting with a win but we can get some 4/5 (Betfair) on the Samba stars overcoming a -1 start on the Asian Handicap and that looks like a worthy boost in price.

Taking this approach means if Brazil triumph by two or more goals we will be paid out, while a Selecao success by a solitary strike would provide the safety net of stakes returned.

As already alluded to, Brazil were the bookmakers’ pre-tournament favourites to conquer Qatar and that can be attributed to the fact that Fifa’s number one ranked side went unbeaten in South American qualification, claiming top honours in 14 of their 17 outings.

It’s also worth pointing out that Brazil are currently in the midst of a 15-game unbeaten streak, winning each of their last seven games and slamming in a staggering 26 goals in the process.

While Serbia demonstrated in World Cup qualifying that they certainly cannot be underestimated, their round of 16 hopes will most likely rest on their subsequent pool fixtures with the aforementioned Cameroon and Switzerland.

What’s more, Dragan Stojković’s side are not exactly renowned for being watertight, with the Eagles earning just three clean sheets across their last 14 competitive contests, and such defensive fragility doesn't bode well ahead of free-scoring Brazil’s eagerly-anticipated entrance to the World Cup on Thursday night.

With all things considered, backing Brazil to cover a -1 hurdle on the Asian handicap holds plenty of appeal at 4/5 with Betfair.