World Cup Preview: Thursday’s action features No. 1 ranked Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo’s final campaign with Portugal
Group G: Switzerland (No. 15) vs. Cameroon (No. 43)
When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
What to expect: The Swiss enter Thursday’s Thanksgiving slate as popular favorites to win their first match, but don’t sleep on the “Indomitable Lions” of Cameroon here. The Cameroonians are no stranger to the World Cup stage, having qualified for the 2010 and 2014 events, although they haven’t won an actual World Cup match since 2002 behind the former brilliance of Samuel Eto’o. Neither team enters the 2022 World Cup with any injuries of note. The Swiss received a slight bump in FIFA’s most recent men’s rankings updates in October and now enter Group G play as one of the top 15 ranked international squads in the world. Cameroon has dropped a few international friendlies of late, which caused them to be downgraded by FIFA in the rankings, but they still have the talents of bona fide star midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Cameroon has been shut out in five of its last nine matches, however, so it will need to play sound defense in order to have a chance to win.
Chris Dell’s prediction: Switzerland 2, Cameroon 1
Group H: Uruguay (No. 14) vs. South Korea (No. 28)
When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
What to expect: The Uruguayans enter Group H play with two veteran star forwards in Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, although the duo is much older and not as dangerous on the pitch. Having said that, Uruguay held serve consistently as one of the top four nations in CONMEBOL South American qualifying, with sound defensive play and an underrated batch of talented young players on both sides of the ball. One of the bright, young, rising stars in the world to keep an eye on here will be Uruguay’s Federico Valverde, who certainly enters the 2022 World Cup as his country’s top footballer. The “Charrúas” of Uruguay tend to play close matches with a methodical yet steady offensive approach. That might not be enough to make a deep run in Qatar, but it should at least be enough to defeat South Korea and qualify from a relatively weak Group H pool. The “Asian Tigers” of South Korea will have star Son Heung-min back in the fold after his World Cup appearance was in doubt due to surgery on fractures around his eye on Nov. 4, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to play up to 100%. Without a fit Heung-min, it will be tough to see South Korea make much noise against Uruguay on Thursday.
Chris Dell’s prediction: Uruguay 1, South Korea 0
Group H: Portugal (No. 9) vs. Ghana (No. 61)
When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha Qatar)
What to expect: The largest gap in the FIFA men’s world rankings between two opening matchday opponents is right here. The No. 9-ranked Portuguese take on No. 61-ranked Ghana, which enters Qatar as the lowest-ranked club out of 32 nations competing. Cristiano Ronaldo no longer has to do things all by himself for Portugal to succeed on the international stage, and that bodes well for his “Selecção das Quinas” squad. Portugal will undoubtedly miss the services of star striker Diogo Jota (hamstring) for the entire 2022 World Cup. However, they still have enough depth and talent from top to bottom to take care of business against an overmatched Ghana side here. Look for Portugal defenders Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, as well as midfielders Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, to show that they indeed belong on the biggest stage and be part of a group effort to make a deep run for Portugal and Renaldo’s tournament swan song.
Chris Dell’s prediction: Portugal 2, Ghana 0
Group G: Brazil (No. 1) vs. Serbia (No. 21)
When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
What to expect: The five-time World Cup champions and No. 1-ranked Brazil enter the 2022 World Cup as public favorites after having won 14 of 17 CONMEBOL qualifying games while outscoring its opposition 40 to five. Like the aforementioned Portuguese, the Brazilians no longer only rely on one player, which means Neymar enters Qatar with a ton of star power and help around him on Brazil’s roster. Look for Brazil to win Group G and be in serious contention for the World Cup title, but it won’t necessarily come all that easy in this opening match against No. 21-ranked Serbia, led by the uber-talented striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic. Even with a loss here to Brazil, Serbia is certainly live to qualify for the knockout stage with less difficult matchups ahead against the likes of Switzerland and Cameroon. For now, however, look for Brazil to take note of early upsets to powerhouses to Germany and Argentina as a caution flag to not overlook its Thursday opponent. Neyman, along with megastars Vini Jnr, Richarlison, and Raphinha, will simply be too much firepower to handle against an underrated Serbian side.
Chris Dell’s prediction: Brazil 4, Serbia 1
Thursday’s Schedule (Nov. 24, 2022): Matchday 1 of 3
- Group G: Switzerland (No. 15) vs. Cameroon (No. 43)
- When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group H: Uruguay (No. 14) vs. South Korea (No. 28)
- When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group H: Portugal (No. 9) vs. Ghana (No. 61)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha Qatar)
- Group G: Brazil (No. 1) vs. Serbia (No. 21)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
Friday’s Schedule (Nov. 25, 2022): Matchday 2 of 3
- Group B: Wales (No. 19) vs. Iran (No. 20)
- When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group A: Senegal (No. 18) vs. Qatar (No. 50)
- When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group A: Nederland (No. 8) vs. Ecuador (No. 44)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group B: England (No. 5) vs. USA (No. 16)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
Saturday’s Schedule (Nov. 26, 2022): Matchday 2 of 3
- Group D: Tunisia (No. 30) vs. Australia (No. 38)
- When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group C: Poland (No. 26) vs. Saudi Arabia (No. 51)
- When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group D: France (No. 4) vs. Denmark (No. 10)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha, Qatar)
- Group C: Argentina (No. 3) vs. Mexico (No. 13)
- When, where: 2 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
Sunday’s Schedule (Nov. 27, 2022): Matchday 2 of 3
- Group E: Japan (No. 24) vs. Costa Rica (No. 31)
- When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group F: Belgium (No. 2) vs. Morocco (No. 22)
- When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group F: Croatia (No. 12) vs. Canada (No. 41)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group E: Spain (No. 7) vs. Germany (No. 11)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
Monday’s Schedule (Nov. 28, 2022): Matchday 2 of 3
- Group G: Serbia (No. 21) vs. Cameroon (No. 43)
- When, where: 4 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group H: South Korea (No. 28) vs. Ghana (No. 61)
- When, where: 7 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group G: Brazil (No. 1) vs. Switzerland (No. 15)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Stadium 974 (Doha, Qatar)
- Group H: Portugal (No. 9) vs. Uruguay (No. 14)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
Tuesday’s Schedule (Nov. 29, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3
- Group A: Senegal (No. 18) vs. Ecuador (No. 44)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group A: Nederland (No. 8) vs. Qatar (No. 50)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
- Group B: England (No. 5) vs. Wales (No. 19)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Ahmad al Bin Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
- Group B: USA (No. 16) vs. Iran (No. 20)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
Wednesday’s Schedule (Nov. 30, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3
- Group D: France (No. 4) vs. Tunisia (No. 30)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Education City Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
- Group D: Denmark (No. 10) vs. Australia (No. 38)
- When, where: 10 a.m. CT, Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah, Qatar)
- Group C: Mexico (No. 13) vs. Saudi Arabia (No. 51)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail, Qatar)
- Group C: Argentina (No. 3) vs. Poland (No. 26)
- When, where: 1 p.m. CT, Stadium 974, (Doha, Qatar)
2022 World Cup groups
- Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
- Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
- Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
- Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
- Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
- Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
- Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
- Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea