GROUP E PREVIEW
Brazil
QUALIFIED: Finished 1st — by a mile — in CONMEBOL qualifying
FIFA WORLD RANKING: No.2
BEST FINISH: Champions (1958, ’62, ’70, ’94, 2002) MANAGER: Tite. The 57-year-old has had three different stints with Brazilian giant Corinthians. BEST PLAYER: Neymar: Who knows if Brazil would have fared better in 2014 if Neymar hadn’t suffered a serious injury in a gritty quarter-final clash with Colombia? The 26-year-old was carted off in Fortaleza after being on the end of hard challenge from Juan Zuniga. Neymar’s tournament ended that day in northern Brazil after doctors discovered fractured vertebrae. Brazil’s tournament ended in embarrassing fashion days later. Neymar enters his second World Cup with a chance to move his name alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — neither of whom have claimed a World Cup title. A World Cup crown would vault Neymar into the conversation for “world’s best,” a debate that has cantered around two players for far too long. Neymar is a better, more explosive striker than Ronaldo in 2018. Like Messi, he’s capable of creating his own chances, a necessary characteristic for attacking players in the elite category. Given Brazil’s quality and Neymar’s previous World Cup disappointment, look for this to be his tournament. OUTLOOK: Brazil heads to Russia with a far more balanced and organized squad than the one that was destroyed by Germany in Belo Horizonte. Remember, ex-coach Luiz Felipe Scolari started a back line four years ago that included aging Maicon, shambolic David Luiz and reserve Dante, who had limited experience at the international level. Things have changed. And Brazil looks like the top side in this tournament. Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro brings an immense amount of composure and tactical acumen to a Brazilian midfield that was far too attack-minded four years ago. Next to him, Chelsea midfielder Willian’s mobility is a vast upgrade over Bernard, who started in his place four years ago. Up front, young attacking players Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) come in four years after Brazil started Fred and Hulk in a semifinal. Put it this way: This Brazilian squad would rout the squad Germany took apart. BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Champions WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Quarter-final loss to Belgium or England
LARSON’S PREDICTION: Champions
Switzerland
QUALIFIED: Defeated Northern Ireland 1-0 on aggregate in a UEFA playoff
FIFA WORLD RANKING: No. 6 BEST FINISH: Quarter-finals (1934, ’38, ’54) MANAGER: Vladimir Petkovic. Managed Italian team Lazio before taking over Switzerland immediately following the 2014 World Cup. BEST PLAYER: Xherdan Shaqiri. Might be the best one-on-one attacker in the tournament. The 5-foot-6 Stoke City winger’s lower-body power takes him past defenders tasked with shutting him down. Shaqiri is one of the few Swiss players capable of creating something from nothing. His delivery is world-class. If he doesn’t get the better of a defender on the first try, he’s coming back again and again and again. Nigerian winger Victor Moses is dangerous. Croatia’s Ivan Perisic was a top player at the 2016 European Championship. For me, though, Shaqiri is the best winger in the tournament — a strange pronouncement given Swiss teams traditionally aren’t packed with attacking talent. There’s a reason Liverpool is rumoured to be chasing the 26-year-old’s signature.
OUTLOOK: As always, Switzerland enters another World Cup targeting a place in the quarter-finals, which always seems to be its limit at major tournaments. Canadian fans will recognize midfielder Blerim Dzemaili. The ex-Montreal Impact midfielder fled MLS following a decent run at Stade Saputo. Valon Behrami (Udinese), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) and Shaqiri round out an experienced midfield that has the quality to get Switzerland to a fourth game. The question for Switzerland, as always, is where the goals will come from. While it’s a team built for tournament play, Switzerland isn’t deep at the forward position. The Swiss will rely on Haris Seferovic (Benfica) to produce up front. Beyond that, Switzerland’s bench has less than 20 combined goals at the international level. Still, they should have enough to knock off Costa Rica and Serbia. BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Round of 16
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: The Swiss are rattled by a Day 1 blowout loss to Brazil.
LARSON’S PREDICTION: Round of 16 loss to Germany or Mexico
Costa Rica
QUALIFIED: Finished 2nd in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying behind Mexico
FIFA WORLD RANKING: No. 23 BEST FINISH: Quarter-finals (2014)
MANAGER: Oscar Ramirez. Featured more than 50 times for Costa Rica during the
1980s and ’90s.
BEST PLAYER: Keylor Navas. The Ticos’ goalie rode an outstanding 2014 World Cup to a contract with Real Madrid. He’s one of the few goalies in the world capable of being the difference in a World Cup fixture. When you watch back tape of Navas, you notice two things: His reactions are incredible and his footwork allows him to make those reaction saves. Although he’s rarely busy while backstopping the best team in the world, Navas will have plenty of work to do in Russia. He’ll need to have another massive World Cup if Costa Rica is to repeat the unbelievable run it enjoyed four years ago. OUTLOOK: We all enjoyed watching Costa Rica four years ago because it bolstered CONCACAF’s profile around the world. That said, the Ticos have next to no chance of repeating what they accomplished in Brazil — especially if they start Minnesota United defender Francisco Calvo, who has been terrible in Major League Soccer. Look for Costa Rica to do what it did four years ago: Sit back in a deep 5-4-1 and try to counter through Joel Campbell and Marco Urena. Costa Rica’s No. 10, Bryan Ruiz, at one point was the best player in CONCACAF. But the 32-year-old midfielder is on his last legs. You can’t help but think Costa Rica’s time has come and gone. BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Third-place finish in Group E
WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Costa Rica could lose all three games in this competition LARSON’S PREDICTION: Last-place in Group E
Serbia
QUALIFIED: Finished 1st in UEFA Group D qualifying, ahead of Republic of Ireland, Wales and Austria
FIFA WORLD RANKING: No.26 BEST FINISH: Group stage (2010) MANAGER: Mladen Krstajic. Appeared 59 times for Serbia between 1999 and 2008. BEST PLAYER: Nemanja Matic. Serbia’s 29-year-old holding midfielder is wonderful in possession. His 6-foot-4 frame is impossible to miss in front of the defence — particularly when his composure sees him settle things down for his teammates. But the Manchester United man’s game is about more than playing simply and retaining possession. He’s also capable of stepping into the attacking third and picking out a pass to unlock opposing defences. It’s clichéd, but when Matic plays, it’s as if he has eyes on the back of his head. Like any good defensive midfielder, Matic knows where the pressure is coming from and goes the opposite way. He makes one of the most difficult jobs on the pitch, the job with the most responsibility, look easy. OUTLOOK: The Serbians have as good a chance as anyone to get to the second round. Still, I like Switzerland to finish ahead of a Serbian team lacking international experience. Don’t forget, Serbia hasn’t appeared at a major finals since 2010. They’re not even as battletested as Costa Rica. The Eagles boast a mediocre roster that didn’t exactly cruise through a fairly straightforward UEFA World Cup qualifying group. Serbia lost to Chile and Morocco in World Cup tune-ups. There aren’t many goals on the team. It’s a recipe that should see them head home early — and potentially without a win.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Round of 16 — but unlikely WORST-CASE SCENARIO: Serbia will be in tough to win a Group E fixture LARSON’S PREDICTION: Third-place finishers in Group E