World Cup 2018: Switzerland vs Costa Rica prediction, team news and preview with Group E heading for exciting finish
Swiss grabbed a late goal against Serbia to give them advantage to progress while the Central Americans have yet to record any goals or points so far
Swiss fears that Fifa woud deal them a massive disciplinary blow were averted when Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner were only fined for their “Albanian Eagle” celebrations against Serbia.
The Swiss know a draw against the eliminated Central Americans will put them through to the next round and that they will top the group if they win by one more than Brazil in their game with Serbia.
Costa Rica are already thinking of home and are unlikely to put up too much of a fight. Then again, they haven’t put up too much of a fight so far when it DID matter.
The nation expects: Even members of the Swiss government have got involved in “Eagle-gate” but support for the “Nati” has gone through the roof after that Serbia win.
Costa Rica expected far more after reaching the last eight in Brazil but appear to have dropped back down to their natural level.
Key battles/Star men: Shaqiri has already proved himself the little man for the big moments and his clear-headed finish in Kaliningrad was the mark of a top operator.
Costa Rica have energy but insufficient potency. Swiss centre-backs Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji will hope not to be exposed for speed.
Weakest links: The Swiss create plenty of chances but Haris Seferovic has not looked like taking the opportunities that have come his way. That has to change if Switzerland are to seize the day.
Costa Rica have been every bit as one-dimensional as they seemed in those warm-up defeats by England and Belgium. A team in need of a radical overhaul.
Likely line-ups and Team Talk: Fifa did Vladimir Petkovic’s team-talk for him with that potential threat to the Three Eagles. While Breel Embolo and Josip Drmic are pushing to start, it is likely to be same again.
Probable team: Yann Sommer; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka; Xherdan Shaqiri, Blerim Dzemaili, Steven Zuber; Haris Seferovic
Costa Rica chief Oscar Ramirez may decide to rotate and give some of his shadow squad members a run-out with nothing on the game for them
Probable team: Keylor Navas; Giancarlo Gonzales, Johnny Acosta, Oscar Duarte; Cristian Gamboa, Yeltsin Tejeda, Christian Bolanos, Bryan Oviedo; Johan Venegas; Bryan Ruiz; Marcos Urena
WE'RE RON THE BALL All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup
Most read in World Cup
Best bet: There will be few who will debate the winner of this match, rather by how many goals Switzerland win by.
A victory for the Europeans would ensure they reach the last 16 and could even see them take top spot.
But Costa Rica have proven before that they can be a difficult side to beat on their day, having gotten a point from England at the World Cup four years ago.
have both teams to play out a goalless draw at a cool 6/1.
Prem Tsar in the making: Powerful Hoffenheim attacking midfielder Steven Zuber has caught the eye with his set-piece danger and strong running. He is certainly capable of meeting the physical demands of the Prem
The stat that matters: The two teams have not met since Costa Rica won a warm-up friendly in Sion in 2010. But the Central Americans have now not scored in their last 368 minutes of World Cup action
Fact me:
- Switzerland and Costa Rica will be meeting for the third time and the first time at a major tournament – both nations have recorded one win each.
- The Swiss are unbeaten in their previous four World Cup games against sides from CONCACAF (W2 D2) – winning most recently against Honduras at World Cup 2014 (3-0).
- Costa Rica are winless in their last four World Cup games against European sides (W0 D3 L1), scoring just one goal across those four matches.
- Costa Rica are winless in their last five World Cup matches (W0 D3 L2), failing to score in four of those.
- Costa Rica have been knocked out of the group stages in this tournament after successive losses. In World Cup 2014, they won the opening two matches and guaranteed qualification for the knockout stage.
- A loss for Costa Rica will mean that they will finish the group stages on zero points – only at World Cup 2006 have they ever failed to pick up a single point at the tournament.
- Switzerland have conceded a goal in each of their last three World Cup games; they had only conceded in three of the previous 10 before this run.
- Xherdan Shaqiri has been directly involved in five of Switzerland's last six World Cup goals (four goals, one assist).
- Only Josef Hügi (6 goals) has scored more World Cup goals for Switzerland than Xherdan Shaqiri (4, tied with Robert Ballamann & Andre Abegglen).
- Stephan Lichtsteiner made his ninth World Cup appearance versus Serbia – the most of any Swiss player in history.