22ND JUNE
BRAZIL VS COSTA RICA
Match kicks off at 13:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 12:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Pougatch, analysis from Martin O’Neill, Roy Keane and Patrice Evra, commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Glenn Hoddle.
Brazil by their standards were poor in their first game and way off the pace they were in qualifying, settling for a 1-1 draw vs Switzerland. They are another team trying to rely on individualism rather than a collective team effort. Neymar was poor and tried too much, Jesus didn’t get any service but Coutinho did score one of his trademark shots to give them the point. If they want to top the group then they are more than likely going to need to win this. Rumours going around from Brazil training that Neymar has picked up an injury and might not play.
Goal scorers so far:
Coutinho (1).
Costa Rica started their campaign with a deserved 1-0 loss to Serbia. It was a even game but they lacked the quality in the final third when it counted. As I said in my previous write up, they don’t appear to be the same team they were 4 years ago. All that said, a win here would put them in a great position in the group. I expect them to try and make life difficult for Brazil because they will know that Brazil want the win here. Need to see more from Ruiz and Campbell, they were quiet in the first game.
No goal scorers so far.
Group E as it stands:
NIGERIA VS ICELAND
Match kicks off at 16:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 15:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Chapman, analysis from Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy and Didier Drogba, commentary from Guy Mowbray and Martin Keown.
Nigeria started their World Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Croatia and whilst they were fairly unlucky, they also put in one of the poorer performances of the World Cup so far. Their defence looked fairly vulnerable and they had no attacking threat whatsoever. However that did change when they brought Iheanacho on later on, he brought more of a threat and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start this one. They can’t afford to lose this game.
No goal scorers so far.
Iceland put in one of the performances of the round in the first round of fixtures, their 1-1 draw vs Argentina just added to their impressive showing at Euro 2016. Their keeper, Halldorsson, had a great game, making numerous saves, his penalty save from Messi being his highlight. They run and battle for everything but are also capable of putting together little moments of quality. Any team that comes up against them knows they’re in for a battle. That said they need to at least win a game to go through and this is probably their best chance.
Goal scorers so far:
Finnbogason (1).
Group D as it stands:
SERBIA VS SWITZERLAND
Match kicks off at 19:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 18:30 (BST). Presented by Gary Lineker, analysis from Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Pablo Zabaleta, commentary from Simon Brotherton and Kevin Kilbane.
Serbia were solid in their first game, opening up with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Milinkovic-Savic was their best attacking player, pulling the strings in behind the striker and Costa Rica struggled to deal with him. That said they will need to be better from open play to progress further in the tournament because it took an absolute rocket of a shot from a Kolarov free kick to win them the game. They are in a good position going into this game, they would be happy with a draw but a win guarantees them qualification to the knockouts.
Goal scorers so far:
Kolarov (1).
Switzerland were also fairly impressive in their first game, securing a 1-1 draw with Brazil, with Zuber profiting from some poor set piece defending. Shaqiri was expected to be Switzerland’s star player and he certainly was vs Brazil but he’s going to be needed again in this game. Despite the good result in the first game, Switzerland are going into this game knowing Serbia are in a good position, so the pressure will be on them to try and win this game.
Goal scorers so far:
Zuber (1).
Group E subject to change due to earlier match.
BRAZIL VS COSTA RICA
Match kicks off at 13:00 (BST) on ITV 1. Coverage starts at 12:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Pougatch, analysis from Martin O’Neill, Roy Keane and Patrice Evra, commentary from Clive Tyldesley and Glenn Hoddle.
Brazil by their standards were poor in their first game and way off the pace they were in qualifying, settling for a 1-1 draw vs Switzerland. They are another team trying to rely on individualism rather than a collective team effort. Neymar was poor and tried too much, Jesus didn’t get any service but Coutinho did score one of his trademark shots to give them the point. If they want to top the group then they are more than likely going to need to win this. Rumours going around from Brazil training that Neymar has picked up an injury and might not play.
Goal scorers so far:
Coutinho (1).
Costa Rica started their campaign with a deserved 1-0 loss to Serbia. It was a even game but they lacked the quality in the final third when it counted. As I said in my previous write up, they don’t appear to be the same team they were 4 years ago. All that said, a win here would put them in a great position in the group. I expect them to try and make life difficult for Brazil because they will know that Brazil want the win here. Need to see more from Ruiz and Campbell, they were quiet in the first game.
No goal scorers so far.
Group E as it stands:
NIGERIA VS ICELAND
Match kicks off at 16:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 15:30 (BST). Presented by Mark Chapman, analysis from Jermaine Jenas, Danny Murphy and Didier Drogba, commentary from Guy Mowbray and Martin Keown.
Nigeria started their World Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Croatia and whilst they were fairly unlucky, they also put in one of the poorer performances of the World Cup so far. Their defence looked fairly vulnerable and they had no attacking threat whatsoever. However that did change when they brought Iheanacho on later on, he brought more of a threat and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t start this one. They can’t afford to lose this game.
No goal scorers so far.
Iceland put in one of the performances of the round in the first round of fixtures, their 1-1 draw vs Argentina just added to their impressive showing at Euro 2016. Their keeper, Halldorsson, had a great game, making numerous saves, his penalty save from Messi being his highlight. They run and battle for everything but are also capable of putting together little moments of quality. Any team that comes up against them knows they’re in for a battle. That said they need to at least win a game to go through and this is probably their best chance.
Goal scorers so far:
Finnbogason (1).
Group D as it stands:
SERBIA VS SWITZERLAND
Match kicks off at 19:00 (BST) on BBC 1. Coverage starts at 18:30 (BST). Presented by Gary Lineker, analysis from Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Pablo Zabaleta, commentary from Simon Brotherton and Kevin Kilbane.
Serbia were solid in their first game, opening up with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica. Milinkovic-Savic was their best attacking player, pulling the strings in behind the striker and Costa Rica struggled to deal with him. That said they will need to be better from open play to progress further in the tournament because it took an absolute rocket of a shot from a Kolarov free kick to win them the game. They are in a good position going into this game, they would be happy with a draw but a win guarantees them qualification to the knockouts.
Goal scorers so far:
Kolarov (1).
Switzerland were also fairly impressive in their first game, securing a 1-1 draw with Brazil, with Zuber profiting from some poor set piece defending. Shaqiri was expected to be Switzerland’s star player and he certainly was vs Brazil but he’s going to be needed again in this game. Despite the good result in the first game, Switzerland are going into this game knowing Serbia are in a good position, so the pressure will be on them to try and win this game.
Goal scorers so far:
Zuber (1).
Group E subject to change due to earlier match.