Graham Ruthven | Thursday’s Best Bets

Brazil vs. Serbia – Both Teams to Score –  No

Brazil are widely considered among the favourites to win the World Cup with Tite’s team finishing top of CONMEBOL qualifying. The Seleção are stacked for attacking options, but their solid defensive record has provided them with a sound foundation in recent times. That could be key in Qatar.

While Brazil are traditionally renowned for their attacking flair, they have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven matches in all competitions. Marquinhos and Thiago Silva are expected to start as Brazil’s first-choice centre-back pairing and that will give them the physical presence needed to handle Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic as the Serbian front two.

Dusan Tadic will also be a threat for Serbia who will carry an attacking threat in Thursday’s match, but Brazil have the midfield structure, specifically through Casemiro, to stop the opposition from finding pockets of space and there’s good reason to believe they will keep a clean sheet.

Brazil’s results in 2022:

5-1 win vs Tunisia 3-0 win vs Ghana1-0 win vs Japan5-1 win vs South Korea4-0 win vs Bolivia 4-0 win vs Chile4-0 win vs Paraguay 1-1 draw vs Ecuador

Brazil is in good form, but Serbia has a talented group, a great test for us. pic.twitter.com/1Ajs6XAdWh

— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) November 22, 2022

Portugal vs. Ghana – Cristiano Ronaldo to score

It’s been a challenging week for Cristiano Ronaldo whose release from Manchester United was confirmed on Tuesday. While the 37-year-old became surplus to requirements at Old Trafford this season, he is still an important part of the Portugal team with the Euro 2016 champions opening their campaign against Ghana.

Ronaldo will be the focal point of the Portuguese attack against a Ghana team that conceded seven times against Brazil and Japan as recently as September and June. Fernando Santos’ team might be notoriously conservative in their approach, but the chances they do create tend to fall to Ronaldo.

Rafael Leao and Bernardo Silva are expected to operate in the wide areas on either side of Ronaldo with Santos still looking to the 37-year-old as the primary source of goals for his Portugal team. Portugal are a good bet to start their World Cup campaign with a win and Ronaldo is still the focal point of the side.

Uruguay vs. South Korea – Total Goals Uruguay under 1.5

On the face of things, Uruguay should be one of the most potent teams at the 2022 World Cup. Luis Suarez might be reaching the end of his career, with this almost certain to be his last World Cup, but Darwin Nunez enters the tournament in good form while Fede Valverde has never been more important to Real Madrid.

However, Uruguay found the back of the net just 22 times in 18 qualifying fixtures and are renowned for their conservative approach, particularly in high-stakes matches. South Korea are capable of scoring goals, but will be dependent on the thirst provided by Son Heung-Min in behind, assuming he starts amid concerns over his fitness.

In tournament football, Uruguay’s approach might work, but they are not known for being the most attack-minded team in South American football which means Thursday’s match could be a cagey affair decided by which of the two sides can find enough space in behind in moments of quick transition.

Graham’s Thursday Treble

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odds subject to fluctuation*