Brazil qualified with real confidence from the CONMEBOL section, losing only their first
game away in Chile before going unbeaten, scoring the most goals with 41 and conceding
the fewest, 11.
The five times Champions, managed by Tite, had plenty of goalscorers: Manchester City’s
Gabriel Jesus scored seven, while Neymar and Paulinho both weighed in with six.
While Brazil should be all about flair and attacking swagger, Tite went back to basics
during qualifying and shored up the defence.
Alisson starts in goal, while Ederson is probably the best back-up in the tournament.
Miranda is no nonsense at centre back, while Marquinhos or Thaigo Silva offer a ball-playing
option alongside.
Brazil’s 4-3-3 builds from the back, with Casemiro, Paulinho, and Renato Augusto dropping
to receive the ball, while Marcelo and Fagner or Danilo work up the pitch from full back.
Ahead of this is a remarkably fluid front three.
Neymar is obviously the star man, and has licence to go anywhere; Roberto Firmino, Douglas
Costa, Taison, and Gabriel Jesus are all versatile attacking options to accompany him.
Paulinho bursts up to support as well, the movement of the attacking three creates space
for him to arrive late to strike.
It’s a dizzying combination of solidity and creativity.
There is depth in most positions: players like Fernandinho, Filipe Luis, and Fred star
for their domestic teams but tend not to start for Brazil.
Neymar will shoulder a lot of responsibility though; if there’s a weakness, it’s in
that reliance.
But don’t be fooled – Brazil can create from anywhere.
They are one of the outstanding three sides at the tournament, and should go all the way
to the final.
Costa Rica topped their fourth round group in CONCACAF qualifying, going through to the
‘Hex’ with Panama.
The ‘Hex’, a six team final round, saw Costa Rica come second behind Mexico, with
both teams comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.
Christian Bolanos and Marco Urena top-scored for Costa Rica with four goals.
Oscar Ramirez has placed his faith in an experienced team – only four players are 25 or younger
in the 23 man squad and 10 players have 50 caps or more.
The team play a 3-4-3 that morphs into a 5-4-1 in defence.
Costa Rica build from the back by splitting the centre backs to give Keylor Navas in goal
passing options.
The two central midfielders, usually Deportivo al Coruna’s Celso Borges and one other drop
in as well; movement between the lines comes from the wingers tucking in and the striker,
either Urena or Joel Campbell, dropping in.
Costa Rica then look wide and direct – they are capable of passing through the lines,
but their formation naturally allows them to double up out wide, as Celtic’s Christian
Gamboa and Sunderland’s Bryan Oviedo add pace and threat from wing back to combine
with the wingers, especially the talented Bryan Ruiz of Sporting CP and formerly of
Fulham.
Navas is Costa Rica’s best player and has now won his third Champions League title in
a row with Real Madrid.
But he is their only world class player, and Costa Rica’s progress may depend on his
ability to save games.
It’s hard to see Costa Rica getting out of a tough group, but they could frustrate
at least one of the two European sides.
Serbia did well to top a tough group featuring the Republic of Ireland and Euro 2016’s
surprise package Wales, as well as a strong, if uninspiring, Austrian team, who were the
only side to beat the Serbs.
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic top scored in the group with six goals, while Southampton’s
Dusan Tadic netted four.
While Slavoljib Muslin saw Serbia through qualification, he was reaplced by Mladen Krstajic,
a former international centre back.
Krstajic has his side playing a very solid 4-2-3-1.
The line is led by Mitrovic, who could start a fight in an empty room, and his abrasiveness
and commitment exemplifies Serbia’s approach.
While there is creativity in the front four, the back line are shielded by a compact pair
of Nemanja Matic and Luka Milivojevic; the defence are all old hands, with Aleksandar
Kolarov also providing a threat from dead ball situations.
Serbia look to play vertically towards young playmaker Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, while Dusan
Tadic can also play centrally or wide.
Milinkovic-Savic then looks to turn to carry the ball or play it quickly out wide towards
Adem Ljajic or whoever plays right wing, followed by a quick cross to Mitrovic.
The wide men also cut inside, and Serbia have a good mix of a strong spine and talented
creative players up front.
Serbia will be a tough nut to crack for any side.
There is experience, creativity, and exciting, young prospects in Milinkovic-Savic and Benfica
winger Andrija Zivkovic.
The new manager has not had much time to bed in, and a change of captaincy from Ivanovic
to Kolarov caused ructions but, should Serbia present a united front, they should progress
from this group with ease.
Switzerland came an expected second to Portugal in UEFA’s Group B in qualifying on goal
difference, seeing off three much weaker teams and Hungary, the only side who might have
pushed them; the 14 point gap between the top two and Hungary in third was the largest
in any UEFA qualification group, though, showing the gulf in quality between the sides.
Switzerland then beat Northern Ireland 1-0 on aggregate in the play-off round with a
penalty from Ricardo Rodriguez the difference.
Haris Seferovic top-scored for the Swiss with four.
Vladimir Petkovic has an experienced squad at his disposal, and could name almost a full
starting eleven with more than 50 caps a piece; only Yann Sommer in goal and whoever partners
Djourou at centre back would have fewer than a half ton.
Switzerland play a 4-2-3-1 with Valon Behrami dropping in between the centre backs to offer
a passing option.
Switzerland have two game changing players in Xherdan Shaqiri, who tucks in, and Breel
Embolo, who likes to stretch the play out wide – these two are the targets of direct
balls from deep.
Blerim Dzemaili, who plays in the hole, will drop to help the midfield press, but arrives
late in the box to assist Seferovic.
Granit Xhaka is another good passing option in midfield, and Switzerland can progress
the ball well through the middle before looking to hit their dangermen out wide.
Swizterland are more adventurous than they have been in previous tournaments.
Fabian Schar poses a threat in the air at set pieces, while Rodriguez and Shaqiri possess
a good delivery.
Switzerland will likely be edged out by Serbia, though.