Brazil will begin what many think could be a run to a sixth World Cup title against a Swiss side that will have upset on its mind.
Brazil became the first country to qualify for the 2018 World Cup when it downed Paraguay 3-0 behind goals from Phillipe Coutinho, Neymar and Marcelo in the South American qualifying compettion in March 2017. A goalless draw, earning it 1-0 win on aggregate against Northern Ireland in the playoff round of qualifiers this past Novermber punched Switzerland's fourth-straight trip to the World Cup.
Costa Rica and Serbia make up the rest of Group E. The matchup will present Brazil with an opportunity to assert its dominance right out the gate and Switzerland with the chance to shake up the world.
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World Cup schedule: Brazil vs. Switzerland
When: Sunday, June 17, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Rostov Arena
MORE: Full World Cup schedule
Brazil vs. Switzerland TV channel, live stream
In the U.S,. Brazil vs. Switzerland will be aired on FS1. It can be streamed live on fuboTV (free 7-day trial).
Brazil roster
Goalkeepers: Cassio, Alisson, Ederson
Defenders: Fagner, Danilo, Filipe Luis, Geromel, Marquinhos, Miranda, Thiago Silva, Marcelo
Midfielders: Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Douglas Costa, Fred, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Renato Augosto,
Forwards: Taison, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar
Switzerland roster
Goalkeepers: Yann Sommer, Marwin Hitz, Roman Burki
Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leo Lacroix, Nico Elvidi, Manuel Akanji, Michael Lang, Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schar
Midfielders: Remo Frueler, Granit Xhaka, Valon, Behrami, Steven Zuber, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Denis Zakaria, Edimilson, Fernandes, Xherdan Shaqiri
Forwards: Breel Embrolo, Haris Seferovic, Admir Mehmedi, Mario Gavranovic
Brazil vs. Switzerland facts
- Brazil and Switzerland’s only previous World Cup encounter was on Brazilian soil in 1950, it ended 2-2.
- Brazil have won the World Cup more times than any other team, lifting the trophy in 25 percent of the tournaments played so far (5 out of 20). They are the last team to win backto-back World Cups (1958, 1962).
- Brazil are also the only team to have taken part in every single World Cup since 1930; this will be their 21st appearance in as many tournaments.
- Brazil are unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup group games, winning 10 (D2), their last defeat in the group phase dating back to 1998 against Norway. In fact, Brazil have topped their group (Round 1) in every single World Cup since 1982 and last failed to progress past the first round in 1966.
- Brazil have also won 16 of their last 18 opening games at the World Cup (D2). The last time they lost their first game in the tournament was in 1934 against Spain (1-3).
- Meanwhile, Switzerland are unbeaten in their opening game in each of their last four appearances, winning the last two (v Spain in 2010, Ecuador in 2014).
- Switzerland have qualified for their 11th World Cup, knocking out Northern Ireland in the play-offs. It’s their fourth in a row, which equals their longest run of appearances in the tournament (4 from 1934 to 1954).
- Switzerland last reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1954, when the tournament was played on home soil. Since then, they’ve never progressed past the second round.
- Switzerland have topped their group only once previously at the World Cup, it was in 2006. That was the year they became the only team not to concede a single goal at a World Cup (4 games, 0 goal conceded).
- Switzerland won all bar one of their games in the regular qualifying phase for Russia 2018 (W9 L1), the only exception coming against Portugal away.
- Xherdan Shaqiri has been directly involved in five of Switzerland’s last six goals at major tournaments (4 goals, 1 assist). He’s also the last player to score a hat-trick at the World Cup (v Honduras, 25 June 2014).
- Neymar was involved in five of Brazil’s 11 goals at the last World Cup (4 goals, 1 assist). He was also involved in more goals than any other player in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup (6 goals, 8 assists).