World Cup group E permutations: Serbia vs. Brazil, Switzerland vs. Costa Rica

Three teams in group E can qualify for the
World Cup last-16

One-Minute Read

Level on four points with Switzerland, Brazil face Serbia (third
place with three points) in their final group game at the Spartak
Stadium in Moscow (7pm, ITV). While second-placed Switzerland take
on already-eliminated Costa Rica in Nizhny Novgorod (7pm,
ITV4).

Could World Cup favourites Brazil be eliminated at the
group stage? It’s a possibility…

Group E permutations

27 June fixtures: Serbia vs. Brazil (7pm, ITV);
Switzerland vs. Costa Rica (7pm, ITV4)

Fifa.com explains the permutations in group
E:

• Brazil will qualify if they avoid defeat against
  Serbia 
• Switzerland will qualify if they win or draw against Costa
  Rica, or if Serbia lose their clash against Brazil 
• Serbia will go through if they beat Brazil 
• If Brazil lose to Serbia and Switzerland lose to Costa Rica,
  goal difference or disciplinary records could save
  Brazil 
• If Serbia and Switzerland win then Brazil would be
  eliminated 
• Costa Rica are out

Serbia vs. Brazil

• When: Wednesday 27 June 
• Kick-off time: 7pm (UK time) 
• Where: Spartak Stadium, Moscow 
• TV channel: live on ITV1

The BBC reports that group E leaders Brazil should name an
unchanged team for the clash against Serbia in Moscow – but Danilo
(thigh) and Douglas Costa (hamstring) are expected to miss out.

Both teams can still top the group, finish second or be knocked
out of the World Cup, but for Serbia it’s a must-win encounter,
says Fifa.com. 

Serbian newspapers today have called on their national
team to “make history” and the front page headline of Sportski zurnal says: “Miracles are possible –
the one who dares to, is the one who can.”  

Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic is not expected to make any changes
and he says his team will aim to exploit Brazil’s weaknesses.
Krstajic told the BBC: “From day one when we saw the draw and the group
many people thought that Brazil was the favourite to win the group
and the competition. 

“We are in a situation where we need to win against Brazil
and we will focus and do whatever we can to win, nothing is
impossible in life. We respect their status as favourites to win
but they have some weaknesses and we will try to exploit
them.”

Serbia vs. Brazil predicted
starting XIs

How the teams could line up at the Spartak Stadium, according to
Fifa.com: 

• Serbia: Vladimir Stojkovic; Antonio Rukavina, Branislav
  Ivanovic, Dusko Tosic, Aleksandar Kolarov; Nemanja Matic, Luka
  Milivojevic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic;
  Aleksandar Mitrovic 
• Brazil: Alisson; Fagner, Miranda, Thiago Silva, Marcelo;
  Casemiro, Paulinho; Willian, Philippe Coutinho, Neymar; Gabriel
  Jesus

Switzerland vs. Costa Rica

• When: Wednesday 27 June 
• Kick-off time: 7pm 
• Where: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod 
• TV channel: live on ITV4

Switzerland will qualify for the last-16 if they secure a
point against Costa Rica, who are already eliminated after two
straight losses in group E.

Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner have
avoided bans for making a “double-headed eagle gesture” in the win
against Serbia, says the BBC, and will be available. All three were fined by
Fifa.  

Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic could make one change,
The Daily Telegraph reports, by dropping Haris
Seferovic. Mario Gavranovic or Breel Embolo will replace
Seferovic.  

Switzerland vs. Costa Rica
predicted starting XIs

How the teams could line up at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium,
according to Fifa.com: 

• Switzerland: Yann Sommer; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar,
  Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka;
  Xherdan Shaqiri, Blerim Dzemaili, Steven Zuber; Mario
  Gavranovic 
• Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Johnny Acosta, Giancarlo Gonzalez,
  Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Cristian Gamboa; Celso Borges, David
  Guzman, Bryan Ruiz, Christian Bolanos; Marco Urena