2018 FIFA World Cup Group E Preview: Schedule Timetable With Match Dates, Venues & Kick-Off Times in IST of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia in Football WC

Five-time winners Brazil, the strongest team in Group E of 2018 FIFA World Cup and possibly of all the groups in Russia is determined to bury the ghost of Belo Horizonte wherein they were battered 1-7 by eventual Champions Germany in 2014. They have Switzerland, who has displayed quite a decent brand of football in the qualifiers as the only team fit enough to offer resistance while Serbia and Costa Rica, who complete the group fall well short of the mark. Group E of the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches is scheduled to take place from 17 to 27 June 2018. Here’s a look at 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E (Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, and Serbia) schedule timetable including match dates, venues, and kick-off time. 2018 FIFA World Cup Schedule in IST for PDF Download: Fixtures, Groups, Time Table with Matches in Indian Time & Venue Details of Football WC in Russia.

The comeback of Neymar from an ankle injury just before the World Cup was the best thing to have happened to Brazil and their coach Tite could not have asked for much better news than this. His arrival only complements the presence of other star names in Roberto Firminio, Gabriel Jesus and Phillipe Coutinho. The ‘Selecao’ are known for their brand of football over the years, and each team brings with itself its own persona on the field. In every department, Brazil looks like they have found the right mix of players. It will be interesting to know the reaction back home if they fail to win or at least reach the finals in Russia 2018.

Switzerland has reached the last 16 of the last two World Cups, and their players know what it takes to cross the group stage hurdle. But there is much more expectation from this Switzerland squad as has been in the past. They are currently ranked 6th in the World and several players from their squad play in the top European Leagues. Valon Behrami and Xherdan Shaqiri are two big names and are expected to carry this team on their shoulders.

Serbia is back in the World Cup mix after a gap of 12 years thanks mainly to a good bunch of footballers who make up the core of this team. Nemanja Matic and Sergej Milinković-Savić play regular football for Manchester United and Lazio. They are an indispensable part of their clubs and hence can look to replicate their club form while playing for Serbia. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic was in the form of his life in the qualifiers and is a dangerous figure up top, and he will look for services of his skipper Alexander Kolarov.

Costa Rica is probably the weakest team of this group, but they were analysed similarly four years back too when they went on to play the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. Bryan Ruiz, the captain of the side, played a pivotal role in Costa Rica’s campaign in Brazil in 2014 and will hope the similar level of display persists for his side in Russia too. This side though will have to work quite hard if they are to qualify from this group.

Group E of 2018 FIFA World Cup Timetable: List of Matches with Kick-off Times

Group E Prediction

Brazil will dominate the group since they are superior in every department in comparison to other three teams. Expect plenty of goals from the Brazilian front three of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Phillipe Coutinho. Switzerland should defeat Serbia when the two sides come up and will also overcome Costa Rica to secure qualification as Group E runner-up. It will boil down to Serbia and Costa Rica to decide who finishes at the third and fourth positions. Teams that progress from the Group – Brazil and Switzerland.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2018 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).