We preview the teams playing in Group E for this year’s soccer world cup 2018, which includes Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica. Key players to watch in this group include Neymar, Keylor Navas, Xherdan Shaqiri and Nemanja Matic. Get betting and predictions here.
Costa Rica
To Win Group 18/1
To Qualify From Group 7/2
FIFA Ranking 25th
How they qualified
Finished second behind Mexico in the North, Central America and Caribbean standings.
Pedigree
Four World Cup appearances (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014), most recently reaching the quarter-finals four years ago, where they lost on penalties to the Netherlands.
Coach
Oscar Ramirez – Former midfielder took over after Paulo Wanchope resigned after getting into a fight with a steward during a match against Panama.
Key player
Keylor Navas – The Real Madrid shotstopper has played over 70 times for Costa Rica since making his debut in 2008. He has represented the country at two CONCACAF Gold Cups and the 2014 World Cup; his impressive performances helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the latter tournament.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Patrick Pemberton (Liga Deportiva Alajuelense), Leonel Moreira (Herediano)
Defenders: Cristian Gamboa (Celtic), Ian Smith (Norrkoping), Ronald Matarrita (New York City), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland), Oscar Duarte (Espanyol), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Acosta (Aguilas Dorados)
Midfielders: David Guzman (Portland Timbers), Yeltsin Tejeda (Lausanne-Sport), Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna), Randall Azofeifa (Herediano), Rodney Wallace (New York City), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting CP), Daniel Colindres (Saprissa), Christian Bolanos (Saprissa)
Forwards: Johan Venegas (Saprissa), Joel Campbell (Real Betis), Marco Urena (LAFC)
Group prediction
4th
Switzerland
To Win Group 6/1
To Win Tournament 100/1
FIFA Ranking 6th
How they qualified
A 1-0 aggregate victory over Northern Ireland in the European play-offs, having been pipped to first on goal difference by Portugal in Group B.
Pedigree
10 finals appearances, reaching the quarter-finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.
Coach
Vladimir Petkovic – Replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld following the 2014 World Cup and led the Swiss to the last 16 at Euro 2016. Before that he coached several Swiss clubs, as well as Lazio in Serie A.
Key player
Xherdan Shaqiri – The Stoke winger assisted five goals in the Swiss’ qualifying campaign.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Roman Burki (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (RB Leipzig).
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Johan Djourou (Antalyaspor), Ricardo Rodriguez (Milan), Fabian Schar (Deportivo La Coruna), Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Michael Lang (Basel), Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Udinese), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke), Gelson Fernandes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Steven Zuber (1899 Hoffenheim), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Denis Zakaria (Borussia Monchengladbach).
Forwards: Haris Seferovic (Benfica), Josip Drmic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Breel Embolo (Schalke 04), Mario Gavranovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Group prediction
3rd
Brazil
To Win Group 2/7
To Win Tournament 4/1
FIFA Ranking 2nd
How they qualified
Topped the South American standings, becoming the first nation to join hosts Russia after an impressive campaign. Ended the 18-match group stage with 12 wins and just one defeat.
Pedigree
The most successful nation with five World Cup titles. Brazil have also finished runners-up twice in 1950 and 1998, having featured in all 20 tournaments since its inception in 1930. Have progressed from the initial group stage on each occasion from 1970 onwards.
Coach
Tite – The 57-year-old, who enjoyed great success at club side Corinthians, including beating Chelsea in the 2012 Club World Cup final, has impressed since his appointment in June 2016, helping Brazil become the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Key player
Neymar – The Paris Saint-Germain forward will be vital to the Selecao’s chances of capturing their sixth world title. Neymar will captain the team and be the driving force behind Brazil’s ruthless attack.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Manchester City), Cassio (Corinthians)
Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Geromel (Gremio), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Fagner (Corinthians), Danilo (Manchester City), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Paulinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Willian (Chelsea), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Forwards: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Firmino (Liverpool), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk), Douglas Costa (Juventus)
Group prediction
1st
Serbia
To Win Group 8/1
To Qualify From Group 12/10
FIFA Ranking 35th
How they qualified
Group D winners in European qualifying, finishing two points clear of runners-up Republic of Ireland.
Pedigree
11 appearances in total, eight as part of Yugoslavia from 1930 to 1990, two as Serbia and Montenegro in 1998 and 2006, before most recently featuring as Serbia in 2010. Reached the semi-finals in both 1930 and 1962.
Coach
Mladen Krstajic – The 44-year-old was named Serbia coach on a permanent basis in December after a two-month period as their caretaker. In his playing days as a centre back, he was known for his composure, leadership and defensive ability. He represented Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup.
Key player
Nemanja Matic – The Manchester United midfielder is an important player for this team. He is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and is also good going forward with his bursting runs.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Partizan Belgrade), Predrag Rajkovic (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Marko Dmitrovic (Eibar)
Defenders: Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Branislav Ivanovic (Zenit St Petersburg), Dusko Tosic (Guangzhou R&F), Antonio Rukavina (Villarreal), Milos Veljkovic (Werder Bremen), Milan Rodic (Red Star Belgrade), Uros Spajic (Krasnodar), Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina)
Midfielders: Nemanja Matic (Manchester United), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace), Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio), Marko Grujic (Liverpool), Adem Ljajic (Torino), Dusan Tadic (Southampton), Filip Kostic (Hamburg), Andrija Zivkovic (Benfica), Nemanja Radonjic (Red Star Belgrade)
Forwards: Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle), Aleksandar Prijovic (PAOK Salonika), Luka Jovic (Benfica)
Group prediction
2nd
GROUP PROFILES
Group A Team Profiles
(Egypt, Uruguay, Russia, Saudia Arabia)
(Spain, Portugal, Iran, Morocco)
(France, Peru, Denmark, Australia)
(Argentina, Nigeria, Croatia, Iceland)
(Brazil, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia)
(Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea)
(England, Belgium, Tunisia, Panama)
(Colombia, Poland, Senegal, Japan)