Switzerland chase last 16 spot

Switzerland chase last 16 spot
Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland celebrates scoring the 2-1 lead during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group E preliminary round soccer match between Serbia and Switzerland in Kaliningrad, Russia, 22 June 2018. EPA/Martin Divisek

by Helder Ribiero

Tuesday Jun 26, 2018. 13:30

Switzerland will chase a place in the next round of the 2018 World Cup when they face Costa Rica in their final Group E match at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Wednesday, June 27, kick-off at 20h00 CAT.

The Swiss come into the game placed second in the pool after following up their 1-1 draw against Brazil with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Serbia this past weekend. Goals from Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri secured three vital points for Vladimir Petkovic’s team.

Costa Rica, by contrast, have suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Serbia and Brazil to suffer elimination from the tournament. The Central Americans performed strongly against the five-time World Cup winners, but succumbed to late goals by Philippe Coutinho and Neymar.

For the ‘Rossocrociati’ to secure advancement, they need only avoid defeat – a draw would take them to five points, a total that cannot be better by both Brazil and Serbia, who face each other in the other Group E match, which will be played concurrently in Moscow.

Yet Switzerland will surely target a victory and hope that Brazil fail to beat Serbia – this would see them top the pool and avoid the winners of Group F (likely to be Mexico) in the last 16. Should the Swiss advance, it will see them reach the second round for the third time in the last four World Cup tournaments.

In head-to-head terms, Switzerland and Costa Rica have met in two previous matches, according to FIFA’s statistics database. The first was a 2-0 win for the ‘Rossocrociati’ in Geneva in September 2006, while the second was a 1-0 victory for the ‘Ticos’ in Sion in June 2010.

Switzerland v Costa Rica – head-to-head

Matches played 2

Switzerland wins 1
Costa Rica wins 1
Draws 0
Switzerland goals 2
Costa Rica goals 1




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