The main tournament of four years has begun. __________ in the first game. RIA Novosti Sport wraps up the story about the participants of the tournament. The penultimate group included three teams playing each other in Russia. Will it be a sensation or will the favorites make it to the playoffs?

The Brazilian national team has played in all world championships and only once did not qualify for the playoffs. It happened in England in 1966. Although the team won the previous and subsequent tournaments. However, the “pentakampeons” last took the trophy 20 years ago. The unsuccessful streak continued for the Brazilians.

The national team came to the World Cup as favourites. The team will face Switzerland and Serbia again. The teams have already played in the same group at the tournament in Russia. Cameroon is another favorite rival of Selesao. The Brazilians won twice in head-to-head matches at the World Championships – in 1994 and 2014.

The tournament in Qatar will be particularly important for head coach Tite. The specialist at one of the press conferences announced that after the World Cup he left the national team.

The Brazilians brought a strong squad. What can I say if there isn’t enough room inside even for one of Liverpool’s leaders, Roberto Firmino. But Dani Alves, 39, entered the application. Tita will have to decide the most important question – which of these starships will enter the field.

After the dramatic end of the last qualifying match in Lisbon, Serbian football players were greeted as national heroes. President Aleksandar Vučić has ordered bonuses of one million euros per team. Meanwhile, the players donated money to charities.

Dragan Stojkovic’s youth team managed to surprise in Qatar. The strongest line of the Serbs can be called offensive. Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic are ready to smash the top scorers.

Italians Serhiy Milinkovic-Savic and Nikola Milenkovic also play consistently in the national team. The “second wind” found Filip Kostic. The winger, who was invited to Juventus at the age of 30, is now the indispensable player of the team together with Vlahovic. Ajax veteran Dusan Tadic will lead the partners.

The Serbian national team has made significant progress over the past four years, although not many noticeable changes. In previous World Cups, the team was content with their group stage matches. Good luck swinging for the playoffs now.

The Swiss national team caused a sensation in the qualifying tournament ahead of the favorites of the Italian group. Despite the lack of world-class stars, the team is considered one of the strongest in Europe. The “crusaders” confirmed this in the last Euro. There they sensationally beat the French world champions in the 1/8 finals.

After the tournament, former Spartak coach Murat Yakin was brought to replace Vladimir Petkovich. The specialist sticks to solid football. Its main features are tactics of defense and pursuit with minimal initiative.

The key players in the Yaquina system are Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka. The back can be reliably guarded by goalkeepers Jan Sommer and Gregor Kobel, as well as defenders Manuel Akanji and Fabian Cher.

In the last World Cup, Switzerland was eliminated from the group after defeating Serbia along with Brazil. Will there be a rematch or will the Red and Whites make it to the playoffs again?

Cameroon came to the World Cup under the leadership of Rigobert Song. The legendary Lions defender has set a record 130 games for the national team and has appeared in four World Cups.

Songu offered to head President Paul Biya’s national team in early 2022. Before that, António Conceição was coaching the Cameroonians. Team selection with the Portuguese went smoothly. Five wins and one loss in the second round. In the play-offs, the team excluded Algeria from the World Cup due to away goals.

The chances of the Cameroon national team leaving the group are very low. Forwards can correct the situation. Eric Choupo-Moting is a successful player at Bayern, Carl-Toko Ekambi is the favorite of the Lyon team and Vincent Abubakar is the leader of the national team in every match.