Costa Rica weren't great in qualifying. Massively overachieved last time and think it's pretty optimisic to think an ageing squad can do that again.As a brazilian, we should have no trouble getting out of that group. Costa Rica has the tools to grab second place.
In group games:How will Brazil probably line up?
Switzerland didn't really impress me in qualyfing either.Costa Rica weren't great in qualifying. Massively overachieved last time and think it's pretty optimisic to think an ageing squad can do that again.
Brazil safe as houses. Swiss usually do enough to get second in these groups but I'll go for Serbia to beat them and get second as they have some good players, just whether they can keep things stable mentally which is always a problem with them and Croatia.
Based on this season's form, Firmino deserves to start ahead of Jesus but I reckon Jesus brings more flair. Does Tite got a clear number one choice there ?In group games:
Alisson
Danilo Marquinhos Miranda Marcelo
Paulinho Casemiro Coutinho
Willian Gabriel Jesus Neymar
Against top NTs:
Alisson
Danilo Marquinhos Miranda Marcelo
Paulinho Casemiro Fernandinho
Coutinho Gabriel Jesus Neymar
Serbia have lots of experience and quality: Ivanovic, Kolarov, Nastasic, Tadic, Matic, Milivojevic and SMS (I presume he gets called up now under the new manager?). They came through a tricky qualifying group aswell.Switzerland didn't really impress me in qualyfing either.
Not sure what to think about Serbia, Matic is their best player isn't he ? Although when he first started at United people liked him, he quickly got the Cafe's ''tough love''. My Costa Rica pick is based mainly on Navas performances..keep the ball out of the goal and hope for the best upfront.
Gabriel Jesus will start. Firmino can take his place during the wc. In fact this Brazil under Tite will not rely on the 9 to decide games. The 9 will be more important to open spaces. So any of them could start.Based on this season's form, Firmino deserves to start ahead of Jesus but I reckon Jesus brings more flair. Does Tite got a clear number one choice there ?
Tite plays with basically 4 midfielders. He really needs the front two to pressure the defense and run behind them. Firmino likes to receive the ball at his foot, the team would become too ‘technical imo’.Based on this season's form, Firmino deserves to start ahead of Jesus but I reckon Jesus brings more flair. Does Tite got a clear number one choice there ?
SMS will play he already got called up by the new manager and played against China and South Korea the only reason he didn't play in the last friendlies was due to a slight injury and Lazio made a big cry cause they were challenging for CL and didn't want him to get further injured.Serbia have lots of experience and quality: Ivanovic, Kolarov, Nastasic, Tadic, Matic, Milivojevic and SMS (I presume he gets called up now under the new manager?). They came through a tricky qualifying group aswell.
Main problems are lack of strikers (Mitrovic is their best one) and as other poster said always plenty of tension around their squad on and off the pitch.
Nah Tosic was phased out of the side like a year and half ago.Yes I know Ljajic as seen plenty of Torino over last 18 months. Not a huge fan as think he's an incredibly selfish player who hardly ever passes in the final third and needs a team built around him.
Does Zoran Tosic still get called up to continue the United link?
--------------------------------- Sommer ---------------------------------------------Nah Tosic was phased out of the side like a year and half ago.
Does anyone know what Switzerland's starting XI will look like ?
Switzerland are actually the favorites in this game (bookmakers). You certainly can't give a clear edge to any team in this game. More like 50/50.Brazil 9pts
Serbia
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia vs Swiss is the big game here, if Serbia take it as expected, they're in.
Serbia's most likely XI will be--------------------------------- Sommer ---------------------------------------------
Lichtsteiner-------Djourou/Akanji-----------Schär------------------------Rodriguez
------------------------Xhaka---------Behrami/Zakaria-------------------------------
Shaqiri------------------------Dzemaili-------------------------------Mehmedi/Zuber
------------------------------Seferovic/Embolo----------------------------------------
As a Swiss, I guarantee you we'll play the most boring football of the tournament. Our front line is horrible. We'll still make it through the group stage I guess, we hardly ever concede (usually 9 players behind the ball, all despite Djourou in our defence) and Shaqiri tends to produce a moment of brilliance each game.
Is Fred likely to start though?Looking forward to matchday 3 in this group, Serbia vs Brazil and could potentially see SMS vs Fred in midfield.
That is exactly what Firmino does every game, this guy is absolutely amazing at opening spaces. Imo the worlds best in this category. If this is the main task for the 9 at Brazil, he should start.Gabriel Jesus will start. Firmino can take his place during the wc. In fact this Brazil under Tite will not rely on the 9 to decide games. The 9 will be more important to open spaces. So any of them could start.
Mehmedi just withdrew from the WC due to lack of fitness from his broken foot. Is Akanji's spot really in limbo? He's done pretty well since moving to Dortmund and I don't exactly remember Djourou in good shape.--------------------------------- Sommer ---------------------------------------------
Lichtsteiner-------Djourou/Akanji-----------Schär------------------------Rodriguez
------------------------Xhaka---------Behrami/Zakaria-------------------------------
Shaqiri------------------------Dzemaili-------------------------------Mehmedi/Zuber
------------------------------Seferovic/Embolo----------------------------------------
As a Swiss, I guarantee you we'll play the most boring football of the tournament. Our front line is horrible. We'll still make it through the group stage I guess, we hardly ever concede (usually 9 players behind the ball, all despite Djourou in our defence) and Shaqiri tends to produce a moment of brilliance each game.
Brazil will not lose to Serbia, mate. Appart from a pointless game in 1998 with some alternative players against Norway(*), Brazil never lose to NTs with the status of Serbia.Serbia is the favorite for the second place (they have better team than Switzerland) but I still favour Switzerland to go through. Boring as feck, but rarely manage to concede goals.
I won't be surprised at all to see Serbia defeating Brazil and then somehow manage to not qualify for KO in the end.
Costa Rica will get a single point, a boring 0-0 draw with Serbia.
My predictions:
Brazil 6 points
Switzerland 6 points
Serbia 4 points
Costa Rica 1 point
I honestly don't see Brazil losing a single game in this group even if they spare some players to the next stage as they usually do. Tite owns many options in the bench and they are good enough to deal with everyone in this group. I'd like to see Costa Rica shining again and making it through as they did in the previous WC, but I think that Switzerland will qualify instead.Serbia is the favorite for the second place (they have better team than Switzerland) but I still favour Switzerland to go through. Boring as feck, but rarely manage to concede goals.
I won't be surprised at all to see Serbia defeating Brazil and then somehow manage to not qualify for KO in the end.
Costa Rica will get a single point, a boring 0-0 draw with Serbia.
My predictions:
Brazil 6 points
Switzerland 6 points
Serbia 4 points
Costa Rica 1 point
That is very true.The Swiss are always horrible to watch at major tournaments
It was funny because in 2014 everyone expected Costa Rica to finish bottom, but surprisingly they won their group which consisted of 3 former world champions (England, Italy and Uruguay).After seeing them tonight, don't see Costa Rica doing anything this World cup. Could well finish bottom of their group which was expected last time.
It's true. They topped the Group of Death and they were knocked out only on penalties in the quarter-finals.It was funny because in 2014 everyone expected Costa Rica to finish bottom, but surprisingly they won their group which consisted of 3 former world champions (England, Italy and Uruguay).
I share your feelings. They're absolute valium for the senses.The Swiss are always horrible to watch at major tournaments