World Cup: Richarlison double seals Brazil win over Serbia - reaction

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KICK-OFF

They say the World Cup doesn't really start until Brazil play. Well, you can now consider the 2022 World Cup properly under way.

This promises goals and lots of them. Don't let us down, lads.

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'Always seems a drama with Neymar'

Alan Shearer

Former England striker on BBC One

Neymar needs two goals to pass Pele's record and you wouldn't put it past him scoring those tonight.

You just feel that if Brazil are going to go far, then he is going to have play a huge part.

There's no doubting his ability but there always seems a drama with him - whether it's injury or diving, I hope it's his incredible skills we are talking about.

He's had a brilliant start to the season with PSG so he will come in with form and confidence.

Brazilian hands on hearts for their national anthem. Some serious faces on the players, none more so than Richarlison, who doesn't do happy.

The Serbian team and subs go with an 'arms on shoulders' approach.

And with that, let's get this potentially stellar show on the road...

Sutton's prediction

BBC Sport

Serbia don't have that much strength in depth in their squad but they have got so many talented players in their strongest XI, and at set-pieces they will be a big danger.

They might give Brazil a scare or two here, although I am not expecting any surprises with the end result.

Brazil are in excellent form, and have only lost one of their past 29 games - the 2021 Copa America final against Argentina.

Neymar is the best diver at this World Cup but he is scoring lots of goals too - and we will probably see him do a bit of both over the next few weeks.

Prediction: 2-1

Chris Sutton's predictions for the opening round of World Cup games

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Good to see Tite saving the best Brazilian in the PL for the big games - Keep Bruno fresh and injury free please!!

Mike

No Bruno G?! Brazil must have a stellar midfield to leave out one of the most in form players in the world.

Tony in Bristol

'Mitrovic will fancy his chances'

Alan Shearer

Former England striker on BBC One

Mitrovic being back is a huge bonus for Serbia because he means so much to them.

He's integral to the way they play. We know the start he's had to life back in the Premier League with Fulham and he will fancy his chances tonight of getting some success.

What he's brilliant at doing is, when the ball's out wide, just pulling on to the full-back, often the weaker ones in the back four, away from the two big centre-halves.

If you hang up a quality ball, Brazil will know they are in trouble. He's so intelligent in terms of his position in the 18-yard box when the ball is coming in.

In 2022, he's got 36 goals for club and country in 43 matches - he's a danger man.

Meet the Serbs

There are some familiar faces in the Serbia side for anyone following recent Premier League or Champions League seasons.

There's this lad of course...

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Aleksandar Mitrovic

This ex-Saint and current Ajax player...

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Dusan Tadic

A big man making a name for himself in Italy with Fiorentina and now Juventus...

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Dusan Vlahovic

The man looking to fill the above fellas shoes in Florence...

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Luka Jovic

Lazio's midfield wizard...

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Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

And possibly a former Man City youngster now strutting his stuff at Verona...

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Serbia's struggles in the finals

World Cup 2018: Serbia 0-2 Brazil highlights

Serbia (including Serbia and Montenegro) have qualified for four of the last five World Cups but have lost seven of nine matches at the finals, the most defeats by any European nation in that period.

In 2006, they lost all three group games. Four years later, they pulled off a shock 1-0 win over Germany in their group but still failed to qualify, finishing bottom. Having failed to qualify in 2014, it was a familiar tale in Russia, with them winning just the once and failing to reach the last 16. Brazil were one of the teams to beat them - 2-0 thanks to goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva.

17 games unbeaten

History does not favour Serbia here.

Brazil are unbeaten in 17 matches against them (including Yugoslavia) since an 8-4 defeat in Belgrade on 3 June 1934.

The Selecao have only had longer unbeaten runs against Ecuador (20 fixtures from 1942-2000) and Paraguay (18 games from 1954-1963).

However, as my dad would say to me: means they're due one!

'A better Neymar'

Brazil captain Thiago Silva says we will see a "better Neymar" at this World Cup after injury hampered his past two tournaments.

Neymar missed the 2014 semi-final with a back injury, and struggled for full fitness during the 2018 tournament after foot surgery earlier in the year.

However, he arrives in Qatar fully fit and having scored 15 goals in 20 games for Paris St-Germain this season.

"I think Neymar is coming into this competition in great form," said Silva.

"His preparation this time has been different. In 2014 he got injured just as he was playing so well, and in 2018 he came into the tournament in a different way because he had a serious injury so hadn't played much.

"Now with a different preparation, without any injury and any worry, we see a better Neymar."

Two more to match Pele

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Robert Ryan: Interestingly Brazil tend to win World Cups when playing quite a boring style - relative to what they might be like - but looking forward to watching.

Brazil's fans roar their approval

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer at Lusail Stadium

Deafening roars around Lusail Stadium as the teams are announced and Neymar's face flashes up on the big screens. Vinicius Junior not far behind in that particular popularity contest.

The famous yellow Brazil shirts are out in massed ranks around the stadium and just watching the squad get off the team coach made you think they will take some beating out here.

Pele and 1970

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Speaking of Brazilian greats, nobody matches Pele.

The highest point of a career filled with them is arguably his display at the 1970 World Cup, when he helped Brazil win in the most beautiful of ways.

Some bloke called Phil Dawkes has written about his performances in Mexico as part of BBC Sport's World Cup icons series.

You can read that here, and also find links to our other icons pieces.

One last samba?

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Neymar had to watch on from the sidelines in 2014, nursing a broken vertebrae in his back, as his country suffered that humiliating loss to the Germans.

He was back four years later in Russia, but Brazil would disappoint again.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward has hinted this World Cup could be his last - a final chance to put some serious material around claims he is a true great but leading his country to global success.

M'colleague Gary Rose has written about Neymar and his possible last shot at glory. It is well worth a read ahead of this game.

Argentina and Germany results a warning - Gilberto

Gilberto Silva

Former Brazil defender on BBC One

I really believe Brazil have a chance to win this year.

It is a real opportunity but today is the day where everything starts. You have seven finals to come and it is about how you start the competition.

We have seen Argentina, Germany - supposed favourites for the tournament. This should raise Brazil's awareness - they don't want to have the same start as those.

Attack, attack, attack

Serbia topped a qualifying group that also contained Portugal, whom they beat via a dramatic last-minute Aleksandar Mitrovic goal last November to snatch first place.

However, they kept just one clean sheet in eight during qualifying for Qatar and let a two-goal lead slip against Slovenia in the Nations League earlier this year.

With a dodgy-looking and out-of-form defence, attack may be the best policy. Thankfully, that is exactly the approach manager Dragan Stojkovic favours.

Only Memphis Depay and Harry Kane (12 goals) scored more goals than Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic (8 in 8 games) in the main round of European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, play-offs excluded. Meanwhile, no player delivered more assists than compatriot Dusan Tadic (6 in 8 games).

It also means we hopefully have two sides throwing caution to the wind tonight with absolutely jam-packed attacks. You watch now... 0-0.

Last chance?

Gary Lineker dropping the "dark horse" tag on Serbia. Does that ever work out?

Fifa allow Wales rainbow flags and hats