Brazil face Switzerland on Monday afternoon in a meeting between two winners from the opening round of Group G games.
A brace from Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison – the second of which has already been earmarked for the tournament’s highlights reel – helped the Seleçao eventually break down Serbia’s stubborn resolve.
Switzerland’s narrow 1-0 win over Cameroon was less convincing but just as crucial ahead of a rematch from the 2018 group stage. Die Nati held Brazil to a 1-1 draw at the Rostov Arena four-and-a-half years ago, before the pair both progressed to the knockout rounds.
Here’s everything you need to know about the first meeting between the nations since that World Cup draw.
Brazil vs Switzerland H2H Results (All Time)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
Brazil team news
A note of reticence from an otherwise serene evening came in the ugly form of Neymar’s swollen ankle. Brazil’s manager Tite was quick to rapidly downplay the severity of the injury. “Don’t worry, Neymar will play in the World Cup,” he cautioned. “I didn’t see Neymar was injured – the capacity he has to overcome it tricked even me.”
However, it seems as though Brazil will have to do without their talisman for the remainder of the group stages.
Danilo also appeared to be suffering some discomfort but played the full 90 minutes given Tite had used all five substitutions by that point.
Brazil Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Sandro; Fred, Casemiro; Raphinha, Paqueta, Vinicius; Richarlison.
Bench: Ederson, Weverton, Danilo, Bremer, Alves, Telles, Fabinho, Guimaraes, Everton, Antony, Rodrygo, Martinelli, Pedro, Jesus.
Switzerland team news
Renato Steffen was the only member of Switzerland’s squad that didn’t play any part in the win against Cameroon. The FC Lugano forward has been struggling with muscle tension in his upper body and is a doubt for the glitzy clash against Brazil.
Switzerland Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Xhaka, Freuler; Shaqiri, Sow, Vargas; Embolo.
Bench: Omlin, Kobel, Kohn, Comert, Schar, Zakaria, Frei, Jashari, Fernandes, Aebischer, Rieder, Fassnacht, Seferovic, Okafor.
Even including their commanding victory over Serbia, Brazil have lost more World Cup games against European opposition (four) than they have won (three) since 2010. As recently as the last tournament, Switzerland added to the Seleçao’s continental headache.
Die Nati’s manager Murat Yakin described his squad as “the best Switzerland side…
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