DOHA (Reuters) – Brazil play Serbia in the World Cup in Doha on Thursday.
When: Thursday, Nov. 24, 2200 local (1900 GMT/1400 ET)
Where: Lusail Stadium
Capacity: 80,000
Odds:
Brazil win: 1/2
Serbia win: 6/1
Draw: 10/3
Key stats:
* Brazil have won the World Cup five times and are pre-tournament favourites to win a record-extending sixth title.
* Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but they have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002.
* Neymar was Brazil’s top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with eight goals as they qualified for the tournament without losing a single game.
* Aleksandar Mitrovic, Serbia’s all-time top scorer with 50 goals, also netted eight times in the World Cup qualifiers but is an injury doubt for the group opener.
* Serbia were also unbeaten in their qualifying campaign where they topped the group with a 90th-minute winner from Mitrovic against Portugal in their final game to seal automatic qualification.
* Serbia have never gone past the group stage since they split from Montenegro in 2006.
Previous meetings:
* Brazil and Serbia also met each other in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, with the South American team winning 2-0 after Paulinho and Thiago Silva scored.
* They have met each other only one other time previously with Brazil winning 1-0 in a friendly in 2014.
(Compiled by Rohith Nair in Doha; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
