Defeats in their respective openers mean the stakes could hardly be higher for Cameroon and Serbia on matchday two. Cam Pope selects a best bet.
A gallant showing against tournament favourites Brazil kept Serbia within reach of the South Americans until after the break, before Richarlison’s class told against a tiring Eagles side in a 2-0 win for the Selecao.
Against Cameroon, who have failed to win any of their last five games, Dragan Stojanovic’s men should face a much tamer adversary, providing the battle-hardened Europeans with a golden chance to get off the mark.
Kick-off time: 10:00 GMT, Monday
TV Channel: ITV1
Yet to progress past the group phase in the post-Yugoslav era, their remaining games against the Cameroonians – ranked outside the world’s top 40 – and the Swiss – who sit just six places above them in 15th – represent a bona fide opportunity to break new ground on the world stage.
For Monday’s clash, I am backing SERBIA -1 HANDICAP.
The Brazil defeat was the Serbs’ first in a seven-match period, spanning comfortable Nations League wins over Sweden, Norway and Slovenia along with an emphatic 5-1 drubbing of Bahrain in a warm-up friendly.
The Africans generated less than 1.0 xGF in the loss to Switzerland on their World Cup 2022 bow.
And a gulf in class against the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dusan Vlahovic, Dusan Tadic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic may well conspire to deprive them of a spot in the second round once again.
Cameroon v Serbia best bets and score prediction
- 1pt Serbia -1 handicap at 2/1 (General)
Score prediction: Serbia 2-0 Cameroon (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)
Odds correct at 1100 GMT (25/11/22)
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