SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2018 18

Sunday June 17 GROUP E Rostov Stadium Brazil target strong9:00PM startRostov-on-Don Reuters | Rostov-On-Don

razil have shown all the signs they can BRAZIL SWITZERLAND rule the world yet again in Russia but they Vladimir Bmust make their excellent prepara- Age 26 We have greater Petkovic tions count in their World Cup Group confidence. E opener against a resilient Swit- Brazil are FIFA rankings  zerland side today in Rostov. The five-times winners better prepared Team pro les* in a number look to have returned Height Xherdan to their thrilling best of ways. That Shaqiri Defence Age under coach Tite and is just part of age 26 were the first team football. In four Sunday June 17 Rostov Stadium to qualify for the ROUP years youG learn E 9:00PM Rostov-on-Don tournament after a lot of things Attack International ripping their way Experience to finish top of the BRAZILIAN Market value PAULINHO The further from the centre notoriously diffi- indicates a higher value, among cult South American BRAZIL SWITZERLANDthe World Cup teams qualifying phase. Coach They have continued Tite Previous matchesVladimir that rampant form in Petkovic their warm-up games and Wins forwards Willian, Rober- 2 2 FIFA rankings to Firmino, , 7 and tal- matches isman Neymar all looked in Team pro les* good shape in wins over Cro- 3 draws 4 wins Height 3 wins Xherdan atia and Austria. 5 last matches Shaqiri Defence Age 1 draw 2 draws age 26 World Cup appearances Participant non participant Neymar begins assault Tite has  stconfirmed participation his starting XI for Switzerland’s back four picks itself but Sunday’s clash with Switzerland. Vladimir Petkovic rotated between Roman with injury woe behind Dani Alves was ruled out of Attackthe World Cup International          Experience Burki  and  Yann  Sommer   in  for  their  through injury and Danilo will be Brazil’s warm-up matches. AFP | Sochi Brazil first choice right-back this summer. Market value th Valon Behrami started both matches and Fred is nursing participation an ankle injury andThe is further from the centre you’d expect Granit Xhaka to be assured of a or three months, a whole nation feared it indicates a higher value, among unlikely to be available on Sunday. the World Cup teams starting berth for the Swiss. Fmight not happen, but Neymar will take Sources: Federations, FIFA *Based on the average of team’s 23 players and the performances during the World Cup quali ers to the field with his Brazilian teammates when Strengths Switzerland Strengths they kick off their World Cup campaign against The attack is formidable with Neymar The team collective. The coach, Switzerland today. back after injury and backed up Previousby players matches Vladimir Petkovic, says the team have The world’s most expensive player appears to such as Philippe Coutinho, Willian, grown together and keep working hard have recovered fully from the fractured foot Gabriel Jesus and, of course, the left-backWins for each other. that required an operation in March, with Marcelo. 2 2 the only slight concern being his possible 7 Weaknesses lack of match fitness. Weaknesses matches Goals can sometimes be hard to come Since suffering the injury in Paris Dani Alves’s injury is a huge blow, partly by and Haris Seferovic, who is likely to Saint-Germain’s game against Marseille because of his influence in the dressing start up front, has not had the best of in late February, Neymar has managed just room but4 alsowins because he is better than 3 draws seasons at Benfica.3 wins 129 minutes on the field. his likely replacement, Danilo 5 last matches 1 draw 2 draws Match Facts World Cup appearances Participant non participant st th • Brazil have kept a clean sheet in 8 of their last 10 World Cup matches.  21participation participation • Brazil are also undefeated in their last 17 WC matches. • Switzerland have kept a clean sheet in 7 of their last 9 WC matches.                       • Switzerland are undefeated in 13 of their last 14 WC matches. • There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Switzerland’s last 3 WC games. • Brazil are among the pre-tournament favourites and expected to get their th 11participation th participation World Cup campaign off with a win.

Sources: Federations, FIFA *Based on the average of team’s 23 players and the performances during the World Cup quali ers PREVIEW

Germany VS Mexico Costa Rica VS Serbia Mesut Ozil has returned to training but Javier Hernandez didn’t start either of Costa Rica were beaten Aleksandar Mitrovic is Joachim Low refused to confirm a starting Mexico’s warm-up games, suggesting in both of their World Cup safe to start in attack berth for the Arsenal ace. he will have to settle for a place on the warm-up matches and that after scoring a hat-trick Marco Reus and Julian Draxler may benefit bench here. will give head coach Oscar in Serbia’s final World Cup with starts if Ozil is not deemed fit enough Ramirez plenty to think warm-up match. to start for Germany. Strengths about ahead of their group It’s unclear whether is expected to start in The attack looks potent with opener against Serbia on Branislav Ivanovic will start goal for the reigning world champions Javier Hernández the obvious Sunday. at right-back or centre-back despite missing most of last season focal point but the PSV Ramirez has continued against Costa Rica. through injury. Eindhoven winger Hirving in Jorge Luis Pinto’s Adem Ljajic started both Lozano may well prove to be footsteps by focusing on matches in a role behind an even bigger threat. a solid defence and quick the striker, which suggests Strengths It’s the most counterattacks, just as they Sergej Milinkovic-Savic The midfield is a smorgasbord Weaknesses difficult feat did four years ago in Brazil will play in a deeper role of talented players with Toni Osorio has not yet and history has There seem to be a few alongside Nemanja Matic. Kroos, Sami Khedira and found his ideal No 6, places up for grabs in the The former Serbia Mesut Ozil and Thomas demonstrated that, with Héctor Herrera no one in 60 years starting XI, particularly on international Mladen Müller hopeful of a starting often leaving too much space the flanks. Joel Campbell, Krstajic has changed things berth. Leroy Sané didn’t even between defence and midfield, has done it Bryan Ruiz, Christian since taking over from make the squad. which the oppostion can GERMANY COACH JOACHIM LOEW Bolanos and Johan Venegas Slavoljub Muslin in October exploit. are all competing for two last year and favours a 4-2- Weaknesses spots against Serbia. 3-1 formation. There is possibly a lack of leadership in the squad Match Facts compared with the • Germany have won their last 10 WC matches. Match Facts last World Cup when • Germany have scored at least 2 goals in their last 10 matches. • Costa Rica’s lost both of their warm-up matches by an Joachim Löw had • There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Germany’s last 7 games. aggregate scoreline of 6-1. They are unlikely to repeat their players such as Bastian • Germany have seen over 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Mexico in all competitions. Germany have also scored at least 2 achievement of four years ago where they topped a group Schweinsteiger, including England, Italy and Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup. Philipp Lahm and Per goals in their last 3 matches against Mexico in all competitions. • Reigning world champions Germany kick start their WC campaign • Serbia have a talented squad for the 2018 World Cup and Mertesacker to count are a good bet to be the dark horses in Russia this summer. on.nt, Danilo against Mexico. Both have good chances of finishing first and second Mesut Ozil in Group F. Their final warm-up match resulted in a 5-1 win over Bolivia.