The following is a match centre with betting tips for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E fixture between Switzerland and Costa Rica. The game kicks off on the 28th of June at 4:00 AM AEST. It will be broadcast live on SBS Viceland.
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Switzerland
- FIFA World Rank: 6
- Elo Rating: 14
- Qualifying: Runners up in Group B with a 9-0-1 record in the UEFA Confederation qualification. Defeated Northern Ireland 1-0 on aggregate in the UEFA Second Round playoffs.
Squad:
- Coach: Vladimir Petković (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Goalkeepers: Roman Buerki (Borussia Dortmund), Yvon Mvogo (RB Leipzig) and Yann Sommer (VfL Borussia M'gladbach)
- Defenders: Manuel Akanji (Borussia Dortmund), Johan Djourou (Antalyaspor AS), Nico Elvedi (Borussia M'gladbach), Michael Lang (FC Basel), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), Jacques-Francois Moubandje (Toulouse), Ricardo Rodriguez (AC Milan) and Fabian Schaer (Deportiv
- Midfielders: Valon Behrami (Udinese), Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna), Gelson Fernandes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Remo Freuler (Atalanta), Denis Zakaria (Borussia M'gladbach) and Steven Zuber (Hoffenheim)
- Forwards: Josip Drmic (Borussia M'gladbach), Breel Embolo (Schalke, Mario Gavranovic(Dinamo Zagreb), Haris Seferovic (Benfica)
Recent results:
- Serbia 1 – 2 Switzerland
22/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Brazil 1 – 1 Switzerland
17/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Switzerland 2 – 0 Japan
08/06/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Spain 1 – 1 Switzerland
03/06/2018
Friendly, played in Spain - Switzerland 6 – 0 Panama
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in Switzerland - Greece 0 – 1 Switzerland
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Greece - Switzerland 0 – 0 Northern Ireland
12/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Switzerland - Northern Ireland 0 – 1 Switzerland
09/11/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Northern Ireland - Portugal 2 – 0 Switzerland
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Portugal - Switzerland 5 – 2 Hungary
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Switzerland - Latvia 0 – 3 Switzerland
03/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Latvia - Switzerland 3 – 0 Andorra
31/08/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Switzerland
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 26-7-9
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 40-2
- O/U 1.5 record: 31-11
- O/U 2.5 record: 18-24
- O/U 3.5 record: 8-34
- O/U 4.5 record: 6-36
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-39
- Wins
- Total wins: 26
- Won by 1 goal: 13
- Won by 2 goals: 4
- Won by 3 goals: 5
- Won by 4 goals: 2
- Won by 5 goals: 0
- Won by 5+ goals: 2
- Won to nil 18
- Losses
- Total losses: 9
- Lost by 1 goal: 5
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 0
- Lost by 4 goals: 0
- Lost by 5 goals: 0
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 7
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 42
- Clean Sheets: 20
- Held Scoreless: 9
- Both Teams Scored: 15
Costa Rica
- FIFA World Rank: 23
- Elo Rating: 27
- Qualifying: Runners up in the CONCACAF Fifth Round with a 4-4-2 record.
Squad:
- Coach: Óscar Ramírez
- Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Patrick Pemberton (LDA), Leonel Moreira (Herediano)
- Defenders: Cristian Gamboa (Celtic), Ian Smith (Norrkoping), Ronald Matarrita (NYCFC), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland), Oscar Duarte (Espanyol), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Acosta (Aguilas
- Midfielders: David Guzman (Portland Timbers), Yeltsin Tejeda (Lausanne), Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna), Randall Azofeifa (Herediano), Rodney Wallace (NYCFC), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon), Daniel Colindres (Saprissa), Christian Bolanos (Saprissa)
- Forwards: Johan Venegas (Saprissa), Joel Campbell (Real Betis), Marco Urena (LAFC)
Recent results:
- Brazil 2 – 0 Costa Rica
22/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Costa Rica 0 – 1 Serbia
17/06/2018
FIFA World Cup, played in Russia - Belgium 4 – 1 Costa Rica
11/06/2018
Friendly, played in Belgium - England 2 – 0 Costa Rica
07/06/2018
Friendly, played in England - Costa Rica 3 – 0 Northern Ireland
03/06/2018
Friendly, played in Costa Rica - Tunisia 1 – 0 Costa Rica
27/03/2018
Friendly, played in France - Scotland 0 – 1 Costa Rica
23/03/2018
Friendly, played in Scotland - Hungary 1 – 0 Costa Rica
14/11/2017
Friendly, played in Hungary - Spain 5 – 0 Costa Rica
11/11/2017
Friendly, played in Spain - Panama 2 – 1 Costa Rica
10/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Panama - Costa Rica 1 – 1 Honduras
07/10/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Costa Rica - Costa Rica 1 – 1 Mexico
05/09/2017
WC qualifiers, played in Costa Rica
Statistics: (last four years):
- H2H Record: 19-15-17
- O/U record
- O/U 0.5 record: 47-4
- O/U 1.5 record: 35-16
- O/U 2.5 record: 23-28
- O/U 3.5 record: 13-38
- O/U 4.5 record: 6-45
- O/U 5.5 record: 3-48
- Wins
- Total wins: 19
- Won by 1 goal: 10
- Won by 2 goals: 3
- Won by 3 goals: 5
- Won by 4 goals: 1
- Won by 5 goals: 0
- Won by 5+ goals: 0
- Won to nil 12
- Losses
- Total losses: 17
- Lost by 1 goal: 10
- Lost by 2 goals: 4
- Lost by 3 goals: 1
- Lost by 4 goals: 1
- Lost by 5 goals: 1
- Lost by 5+ goals: 0
- Lost to nil 13
- Clean Sheets and BTTS
- Total Games: 51
- Clean Sheets: 16
- Held Scoreless: 17
- Both Teams Scored: 22
Group E Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Brazil | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| 2 |  |
Switzerland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 3 |  |
Serbia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 |  |
Costa Rica (E) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 |
(E) Eliminated
Commentary
Switzerland began their campaign by coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Brazil. They came from behind again to beat Serbia 2-1, with Xherdan Shaqiri scoring after a stunning solo effort in the 90th minute. Switzerland were outplayed in the first half against Serbia but halftime adjustments did the trick. They have now trailed at halftime in both fixtures before winning both second halves. Switzerland have lost just 1 of their last 24 fixtures (17-6-1 record), with their sole defeat coming against Portugal during qualifying. In team news, Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner are available for selection after avoiding bans for making gestures that referenced Albania during their game against Serbia.
Costa Rica are the only side in Group E that is out of contention to progress. They’ve proven to be a tough nut to crack, but a lack of threat in attack has been their undoing. Costa Rica began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Serbia. Once Serbia took the lead in the second half they were able to hold Costa Rica at bay with ease, with Los Ticos lacking the quality in the final third to threaten their opponents. Costa Rica were then beaten 2-0 by Brazil after a valiant defensive effort held the South Americans at bay until conceding two goals in second half stoppage time. Costa Rica have now lost four in a row and eight of their last ten. Goals have been the problem. In their eight losses Costa Rica have scored in just two of them and were held goalless in the remaining six. The number of combined genuine chances they created against Serbia and Brazil can be counted on one hand. Costa Rica had just three shots in the Brazil match, with none after the 15th minute. With the side now out of the tournament, I expect Costa Rica won’t put ten men behind the ball and play for a draw as they did against Brazil, so hopefully we will see more from them offensively.
Betting
bet365 odds (subject to change):
Compare the latest bookmaker odds for Switzerland vs. Costa Rica
Switzerland have conceded a goal in each of their last three World Cup games, but they only conceded in three of the previous ten before that. Leading up to the World Cup, six of Switzerland’s seven wins were to nil, while six of Costa Rica’s last seven defeats were to nil. Costa Rica are winless in their last four World Cup matches against European sides, going 0-3-1 and scoring just one goal. Costa Rica are also winless in their last five World Cup games, going 0-3-2, and failing to score in four of those. Costa Rica have defended valiantly this tournament, but I’m not sure how much urgency in defence they’ll be able to maintain now that they’ve been eliminated from the tournament.
Betting tips: back Switzerland to win to nil at 2.60 (Mad Bookie). For those who fear the 0-0 draw, back No in the both teams to score market at 1.75 (Unibet). Under 2.5 goals at 1.75 (Betfair) is also worth a look. Given Switzerland have failed to score in the first half this tournament while Costa Rica have yet to concede in the first half, the Draw/Switzerland in the HT/FT market at 4.50 (Sportsbet) is a good option for those looking for higher odds.
Notes
- FIFA World rankings are from the 7th of June and sourced from https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/index.html
- The World Football Elo Ratings are from the 11th of June and are based on the Elo rating system, developed by Dr. Arpad Elo. This system is used by the international chess federation to rate chess players and is considered by many to be a superior rating tool to the one used by FIFA. The ratings have been sourced from https://www.eloratings.net/.
- Squad lists sourced from http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/11374464/every-world-cup-squad-listed-argentina-brazil-russia-and-more