Switzerland Seek To Contain Rampant Brazil

Unbeaten in their previous 11 games and keen to make up for the humiliation they suffered four years ago, Brazil get their World Cup underway against Switzerland at the Rostov Arena on Sunday evening. The Selecao – who have conceded just twice in that aforementioned spell – enter the competition as favourites, and will be looking to show exactly why when they take on Vladimir Petkovic’s men here.

Switzerland are in good defensive form themselves however, conceding just once in six games, and losing only one game since Euro 2016. Captain and new Arsenal signing Stephan Lichtsteiner will be hoping to help continue that run, putting their nervy qualification campaign – which included a playoff win over Northern Ireland – behind them.

Brazil had no such issues, reaching Russia with ease and they have not lost their opening game at a World Cup since defeat to Spain back in 1934. Playing a fluid 4-3-3 formation, they will be glad to see Neymar returning to full fitness, the Paris Saint-Germain forward having an incredible record of  55 goals in 85 international appearances including two in his last two games.

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus – who himself has already bagged 10 goals in 17 outings for Brazil – will be alongside him, with Willian and Philippe Coutinho creating chances for them.

They remain in excellent form, following up November’s draw against England with wins over Russia (3-0), Germany (1-0), Croatia (2-0) and Austria (3-0). Those clean sheets are perhaps even more significant than the scoring margins, with a defence that is much stronger than expected as Thiago Silva and Marcelo provide cover for in-demand AS Roma goalkeeper Alisson.

Lining up against them will be a stubborn and pragmatic Switzerland side, with Petkovic often opting for a 4-2-3-1 framework that allows them to sit deep and strike on the counter attack. They have proven they should not be written off before, beating Spain in 2010 but then failing to get out of the group stage and recent defeat to Portugal underlined how their negative approach can occasionally backfire.

This will be the ninth meeting between Brazil and Switzerland, with the first also coming at a World Cup back in 1950. The following seven encounters since have only been friendlies, but the Swiss won the last game courtesy of a Dani Alves own goal in Basel almost five years ago yet four of the Brazil XI and seven of the opposition are expected to feature again on Sunday.

With Brazil’s excellent form and their resilient defence, it will be hard to see them falter here, even against a team who will push them hard and keep the game competitive, so expect a tight, engaging encounter with the South American side emerging with all three points.

Predicted Lineups:

Brazil (4-3-3): Alisson; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Joao Miranda, Marcelo; Coutinho, Fernandinho, Paulinho; Willian, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar

Switzerland (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Granit Xhaka, Behrami; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Zuber; Seferovic

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