CM 2018 – Situatia in grupa E inaintea ultimei etape

Source: Financiarul.ro.

Current Standings in World Cup Group E

As the World Cup progresses, Group E is unfolding as anticipated after two matches, with Brazil and Switzerland occupying the top two spots, just as many predicted.

Match Summaries

In the opening round, the two frontrunners played to a thrilling 2-2 draw. Coutinho netted the first goal just 20 minutes in, but Switzerland equalized shortly after halftime through Zuber. Brazil dominated possession and created numerous chances, but luck was not on their side. Meanwhile, Serbia secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Costa Rica, thanks to Kolarov’s goal in the 56th minute. The match was fairly balanced, with Serbia perhaps having a slight edge.

In the second round, Costa Rica struggled again, failing to score against Brazil, who triumphed 2-0. The goals came late in the match, with Coutinho and Neymar finding the net in stoppage time. In the other match, Switzerland came from behind to defeat Serbia 2-1, despite trailing at halftime due to Mitrovic’s early goal. Xhaka equalized in the 50th minute, and Shaqiri clinched the win with a late goal. While the match was competitive, Switzerland demonstrated their superiority.

Looking Ahead

In the final round, Brazil will face Serbia, while Costa Rica, already eliminated, will take on Switzerland. Currently, Brazil and Switzerland each have 4 points, with Serbia trailing at 3. Brazil has scored 3 goals and conceded 1, Switzerland has 3 goals scored and 2 conceded, while Serbia has netted 2 and conceded the same. It’s important to note that goal difference is the first tiebreaker in case of equal points. Given that Germany is in Group F and likely to finish second, Brazil may opt for a conservative approach in their final match, potentially winning by a narrow margin while hoping for a favorable result for Switzerland against Costa Rica, depending on outcomes in Group F.

After the devastating 1-7 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals, Brazil will likely want to avoid facing the Germans in the knockout stage. This situation gives Brazil an advantage, as they will know Germany’s position before their match begins, which starts an hour after the conclusion of the Group F games.

Historical Encounters

Brazil and Serbia have met only once before, in a friendly match in 2014, where Brazil won 1-0. On the other hand, Switzerland has faced Costa Rica twice in friendlies, winning both without conceding a goal-2-0 in their first encounter and 1-0 in the second.

Betting Odds

As the final matches approach, Unibet offers around 230 betting options for the Brazil vs. Serbia match and approximately 300 for Switzerland vs. Costa Rica. Switzerland is favored against Costa Rica with odds of 1.65 compared to 5.85 for Costa Rica. Brazil’s odds for victory stand at 1.5, while Serbia’s are at 7.35. Expectations for both matches are modest, with the odds for under 2.5 goals in the Switzerland vs. Costa Rica match at 1.64, and over 2.5 goals at 2.28. For the Brazil vs. Serbia match, the odds for fewer than 3 goals are 1.79, while more than 2 goals are at 2.02.

Our Predictions for Group E Matches

Brazil faced a tough match against Costa Rica, and we doubt Switzerland will secure an easy win. Both of Costa Rica’s matches have seen a maximum of two goals, and the third goal in the Switzerland vs. Serbia match came in the dying moments. If goalkeeper Keylor Navas performs as he did against Brazil, we believe the Switzerland vs. Costa Rica match will also see no more than two goals.

In the Brazil vs. Serbia match, while it seems Brazil should win comfortably, various factors could influence the outcome. Therefore, we suggest betting on both teams scoring in each half.

Switzerland vs. Costa Rica: Under 2.5 goals (1.64)

Serbia vs. Brazil: Both teams to score in each half (1.78)