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World Cup Group G permutations: Who needs what to qualify for the last 16?

Sports Mole looks at what each Group G team needs to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.

The final round of fixtures in World Cup 2022 Group G will take place on Friday with Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia all vying to make it into the knockout stage.

Brazil are the only team already assured of moving on with six points, Switzerland are next with three, while Cameroon and Serbia are tied at one, though the Indomitable Lions are currently in third on goal difference.

Serbia face Switzerland at Stadium 974 in search of their first victory of the tournament, while Cameroon still have an opportunity to advance into the next round for the first time since 1990 when they battle Brazil at Lusail Stadium.

Here, Sports Mole looks at what each team needs to qualify for the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.



BRAZIL

Brazil fans celebrate after the match on November 28, 2022© Reuters

A Selecao have scored all three of their goals at this tournament in the second half of their matches, and they have yet to concede an effort on target.

If Tite's men post another clean sheet versus Cameroon, it would be the first time they finish the group phase of a World Cup without conceding a goal since the 1986 finals.

Finishing first seems to be the most likely scenario for them, as only a Swiss victory by three or more goals and a defeat against Cameroon would prevent them from topping Group G.

Brazil have not suffered a defeat at this phase of the finals since 1998, when they squandered a 1-0 advantage in the second half, falling 2-1 to Norway.

In their World Cup history, they have never lost to an African side, beating Cameroon twice in past group stage tournaments in 2014 (4-1) and 1994 (3-0).



SWITZERLAND

Breel Embolo in action for Switzerland on November 24, 2022© Reuters

The Swiss have an opportunity to qualify for the round of 16 for a third consecutive World Cup on Friday even though they dropped their second fixture of this tournament, 1-0 against Brazil.

Murat Yakin knows that a victory for his side would guarantee them passage into the next round, while a lopsided triumph by three or more goals, or a Brazilian defeat by that many would see them top a World Cup group for the first time since 2006.

A draw against Serbia could also be enough to put them through, though they would need Brazil to win or draw their match with Cameroon to ensure advancement in that scenario as the Indomitable Lions have scored two more goals than them, which would be the second tiebreaker.

Should the Swiss lose their final encounter, they would miss out on the round of 16 for the first time since 2010.



SERBIA

Serbia's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic celebrates scoring against Cameroon at the World Cup on November 28, 2022© Reuters

Dragan Stojkovic saw his side miss a golden opportunity to draw even with the Swiss for second place in their previous encounter as they let a 3-1 lead slip away, ultimately settling for a 3-3 draw with Cameroon.

Serbia are currently bottom of Group G, while they have the worst goal differential at -2, meaning that even a victory in their final game may not be enough to see them through.

They have never qualified for the knockout stage of this tournament since Yugoslavia split up following the 1998 finals in France.

For the Serbs, victory is a must for them to have any hope of advancing, as three points, combined with a Cameroon defeat or draw versus Brazil, would give them four at this competition and thus send them into the round of 16 in second place.

Should Cameroon upset Brazil, then the Serbs would need to defeat Switzerland by a two-goal margin or greater, as the Indomitable Lions have a goal differential of -1.



CAMEROON

Cameroon's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting celebrates scoring against Serbia at the World Cup on November 28, 2022© Reuters

Cameroon head into their final group encounter with an opportunity to advance beyond the opening phase of a World Cup, the first time they have been able to say that since the 2002 tournament.

Rigobert Song's men took the lead before the half-hour mark against the Serbs, before conceding twice near the end of the half, but fighting back from a two-goal deficit to earn their first point at the finals since 02.

In order for them to advance, they will have to do something they have only done once in a World Cup match this century, win.

They have not beaten a South American opponent at the finals since defeating both Argentina and Colombia at Italia 90.

A win by two or more goals over Brazil, combined with a draw by Switzerland and Serbia, would see them advance on goal difference.

Should they and Serbia each triumph, it would come down to goal difference, with the Indomitable Lions currently at -1 while the Serbs are -2.


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Cameroon players pose for a team group photo before the match in September 2022
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