Group E Highlight: The Last Group Matches – FIFA World Cup 2018

The Standing After The Last Match of Group E

Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia will fight it off on these last matches of group E. With Costa Rica going home, both Brazil and Switzerland are trhough with only a draw. But for Serbia, it is a must win if they want stays in the competition. Read: 1st Group E matches, 2nd group E matches.

Switzerland vs Costa Rica

Pre-match commentary and tipping

• Costa Rica is a great country in football. At 2014 World Cup they reach quarter final. And they did that by qualified a terror group matches that contains no one else but England, Italy and Uruguay. Guess what, Costa Rica top that group. This Grup E of 2018 is definitely easier at least on paper. And that’s football they end up at the bottom of the ladder.
• Learning from the extraordinary spirit displayed by Peru when they trash Australia 2-0 in the last match of Group C that no longer matter to Peru (they were already not qualified), there will be a lot of pride and greatness that will be displayed by Costa Rica in this last game of their appearance.
• And since even Brazil cannot put a goal for the whole 90 minutes (they did get a goal at 91′ and 97′ injury time), it is very hard for Switzerland to do the same.
• Switzerland also handled Brazil very well, they forced a draw. And they dominated Serbia pretty well.
• Needed just a draw, Switzerland will just do that. Try to handle Costa Rica attack as they did successfully with Brazil and do offensive. But also they would prefer not to meet German on the first Top 16 by becoming the top of group E. So, a draw is just fine.
• So, 0 – 0 for Switzerland v Costa Rica.

Post-match commentary:

• Switzerland got very lazy starts and see Costa Rica dominate the first phase of the first half with few very-close-to-goal opportunities. If it happened exactly the same as that on a different day, it would be a goal.
• At 31′, Xerdan Shaqiri make a crossing from the right wing toward the lift of the goal post where Breel Embolo is at the correct spot to make a header. Seeing that the goalkeeper and 1 defender are in the right position to block his header, he smartly, instinctively and accurately make a head-down-pass to Blerim Dzemaili on his right that make the goalkeeper losing his anticipation and 1-0 for Switzerland. What a brilliant teamwork and skill showed by Embolo.
• After the halftime started, at 56′, Costa Rica’s Kendal Watson made the equalizer with his header from a corner kick. 1-1.
• Shaqiri then at 88′ made a long-on-the-ground pass from right wing to the left where Josip Drmic, a substitute who just played for less than 20 minutes, freely standing without Costa Rican defender nearby. And he squarely put the ball to the net with least resistance. 2-1 for Switzerland.
• But 2 minute later Valon Behrami need to make a hard tackle inside the penalty box to Joel Campbell. The penalty was awarded. Costa Rica Captain Bryan Ruiz took the penalty, hit the crossbar and bounce outward the net (penalty failed) and miraculously hit the back of the goalkeeper Sommer and in toward the net. Own Goal by the goalkeeper. 2-2 .
• To be frank, Costa Rica deserved to win. More chance of some goals, more attacking initiative, compared to sluggish Switzerland. A draw did not make a justice for them.

Serbia vs Brazil

Pre-match commentary and tipping

• It’s do-or-die for Serbia. But for Brazil, a draw will be good enough. However, with everything on the stake, Brazil will take no chance to Serbia. Serbia will see the full force of Brazil and vice versa.
• And when that happen, the statistic, the skill and the aggregate knowledge of the team will matter.
• Therefore, Brazil will beat Serbia, convincingly 2-0.

Post-match commentary:

• In general, Brazil performed as expected. They slightly dominated the ball possessions (54%). But this is because they really like just playing the ball around in the midfield, sometimes for minutes just back and forth in the middle pitch.
• As soon as the kickoff, Neymar is straightaway in action. However, Serbia really quite discipline in marking Neymar throughout the match, so his effectiveness is really become limited. But Neymar did indeed making some good chance for goal scoring.
• Early in the game, at 10′, Brazil suffer considerable lost when Marcello signalling that he is injured and cannot continue to play. Filipe Luis substituted him but losing the Real Madrid star so early in the game has some impact in team effectiveness.
• Only at 36′, Phillipe Coutinho made an accurate forward passing to Paulinho. Despite chased by three defenders while chasing the ball, Paulinho managed to push the ball slightly over the goalkeeper and into the net. Clever instinct. Brazil lead 1.0
• Both in 60′ and 64′,  Mitrovic really have a goal opportunity for Serbia when he headed the crossing. But lucky for Brazil the goalkeeper Alison Becker just in the right spot.
• At 68′ Neymar took a corner kick from the left wing and perfectly met by Thiago Silva header that put the ball into the net. Perfect textbook corner-kick goal. Brazil 2, Serbia 0.
• The Serbia goalkeeper deserved some mentions here as, without Vladimir Stojkovic, Neymar and co will make a few more goal.
• But overall Brazil showed their superior skill and won a deserved win. Well done!