Day 4 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup featured closely fought clashes in Group E. Costa Rica and Serbia was decided by a goal on a free kick, while two top-ten teams in Brazil and Switzerland closed with a draw.
Costa Rica
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The first of the two Group E matches featured a Costa Rica squad that showed up big in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Serbia, who won their UEFA World Cup Qualifying group to get to the tournament.
First Half
Both teams came out physical, setting the tone for what would be a constant theme throughout the match.
The first big opportunity of the match came on a cross from Costa Rica’s David Guzman. Bad marking by Serbia left Giancarlo Gonzalez wide open in the box. He met the cross with a head but could not keep it down, sailing it over the crossbar.
Throughout the first half Serbia consistently used the right side of the pitch in an attempt to open the game up.
It was Costa Rica creating more opportunities with less, as Serbia controlled possession with 61%. Los Ticos were physical and generated five shots, to their on-pitch rival’s three.
Second Half
Serbia came out controlling after the break. Aleksandar Mitrovic was able to get a one-on-one situation against against Keylor Navas. The Costa Rica keeper was able to keep an angle and got down to make the save on Mitrovic’s shot, who know lost a key opportunity.
Aleksandar Kolarov broke things open after Costa Rica’s David Guzman was booked after taking down Mitrovic just outside of the box. Kolarov was able to bend the ball with a left-footed shot, putting it just out of Navas’ reach to give Serbia the lead in the 56th minute.
Contrary to Serbia beginning to control the game, Costa Rica amped up their pressure and took control of possession. As determined as they were, the just couldn’t penetrate the Serbian defense to create clean chances at goal.
Joel Campbell came on for Marco Urena in hopes of creating something for Costa Rica in the final 25 minutes of the match.
Serbia put Navas back to work in the 76th minute when Dusan Tadic sent in a low cross from the right side. Kolarov was found alone, with the Costa Rican defense looking pedestrian. Fortunately, Navas was able to get just enough to throw off Kolarov’s attempt at goal.
Filip Kostic provided a final opportunity to put the game away, firing a shot from outside of the box that sailed just over the crossbar.
Added time was all Costa Rica.
Brazil
By Pedro Dorantes
Two of the top-ten teams in the world clashed in the second Group E match of the day. Brazil, a team always within the favorites to win the World Cup, faced a difficult challenge in Switzerland.
First Half
The first half a good collective performance by Brazil. They showed outstanding passes and fantastic ball movement on reduced spaces. Switzerland started off strong, looking for scoring chances however, that didn’t last very long. As soon as the Swiss settled, it was obvious Brazil was superior on offense. The Swiss looked very unorganized on the defensive side of things. On the other hand, whenever La Canarinha got in trouble, they were able to steer out of it right away.
Coutinho scored on a superb strike from outside the box on the 19th minute to give Brazil the lead
Second Half
Brazil let their foot off the gas at the start of the second half. They looked overconfident, leaving space for the Swiss offense to get trough.
Such was the case at the 50th minute as Stevan Zuber scored the equalizer to level the score 1-1
Brazil seemed stunned following the tying goal and set off to counter attack, granting the ball possession to the Swiss XI. That created some danger for Brazil as Switzerland came close to scoring. However, it also generated an exciting back and forth match with both teams struggling for the lead.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer denied Joao Miranda the go ahead goal with an excellent save.
Brazil and Switzerland tied 1-1 at the end of the 90 minutes