 "Costa Rica team, Fifa World Cup 2018")
Costa Rica are already out of the World Cup. But Switzerland have to better Serbia's result against Brazil in order to reach the knockout stages. Moreover, they even have a chance to top the group if Switzerland wins and Brazil lose against Serbia.
Live updates:
Full-time report: Switzerland drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in their final group E match at the Nizhny Novgorod stadium that seals their place in the Round of 16. Costa Rica are eliminated from the Fifa World Cup 2018 despite the draw but have been terrific in their performances throughout the tournament. They put a similar performance here, making a comeback each time after conceding a goal.
Costa Rica started the game brilliantly and drew at least three good saves from Switzerland's Yann Sommer within the first 10 minutes. This also included a sixth-minute brilliant double-save. First, he stopped Campbell’s shot and then palmed away a superb downward header by Borges that looked like it was destined to hit the back of the net. However, their domination fizzled out as the game wore on and as Switzerland grew into the game. Switzerland had their goal in the 31st minute as Dzemaili scored after Lichtsteiner put in a cross the right and Embolo headed it down into the path of Dzemaili, who slammed it into the net. The Swiss controlled the game from that moment on.
Kendall Waston scored in the 56th minute to draw Costa Rica levels with Switzerland. Waston headed it home from the corner after jumping the highest and twisting his head to the left. Costa Rica controlled the match for the time being before the match fizzled into a chaos. Although, Switzerland managed to get ahead the second time in the match in the 88th minute when Zakaria played a low ball into the box from the right and Josep Drmic, arriving from the left, curled his first-time shot into the corner.
There were two back-to-back VAR moments in the 90th minute, first when Bryan Ruiz went down in the area and the referee gave a penalty only to consult VAR and declare it an offside. But minutes later, in the injury time, Costa Rica got another penalty. Bryan Ruiz took the penalty which hit the underside of the bar but fell onto Sommer's back and into the goal. The own goal made the things even and was, in a way, fitting for the match that wasn't dominated by any one side. Costa Rica exit the tournament without winning even a single match. Switzerland advance to the Round of 16 and will meet Sweden.
And.. that's it.
Minute 90+ 2 (GOAL!!) -- Penalty to Costa Rica! Bryan Ruiz takes the penalty which hits the underside of the bar but falls onto Sommer's back and into the goal. An own goal? Anyway, Costa Rica equalise.
Minute 90 (VAR moment!) -- Bryan Ruiz goes down in the area and the referee gives a penalty but consults VAR and decides it was offside.
Kendall Waston shown a yellow card.
Minute 88 (GOAL!!): Switzerland score! Surely that settles it. Zakaria plays a low ball into the box from the right and Josep Drmic, arriving from the left, cruls his first-time shot into the corner. Switzerland 2-Costa Rica 1!
Minute 82-- Fabian Schaer is booked for tugging at Campbell's shirt. He will miss his next match.
Minute 80 -- Substitution: Shaqiri substituted for Lang
Minute 78 -- Drmic hits the post with a thumping header from an Embolo cross. Navas had no chance but the ball crashed off the crossbar.
Minute 75-- Zakaria is booked for a foul on Gamboa.
Minute 68 -- Borges finds himself with a great opportunity to score from a corner as Sommer can't get to the cross but Borges can't time his jump correctly and the ball sails over both.
Minute 68 -- Substitution for Switzerland: Gavranovic out, Drmic in
Minute 59 -- Substitution for Switzerland: Behrami out, Zakaria in
Minute 56 (GOAL!!) -- Kendall Waston heads it home from the corner after jumping the highest and twisting his head to the left. No chance for Sommer!! It's Costa Rica's first goal of the tournament.
Minute 51 -- Embolo twists and turns at the inside right and takes a shot from a difficult angle, near the byline but Navas is up to the task.
Minute 49 -- Rodriguez with his left foot from outside the box. The shot has incredible power but a lot of height too and it sails over the bar.
Minute 47 -- Campbell places it wide from inside the box! He received the ball inside the box unmarked and took a shot with his first-touch that went beyond the left hand post.
Second half begins.
Half-time report:Switzerland have the game under control as they do their fate for a place in the last 16. Costa Rica, who are yet to win a game in the Fifa World Cup 2018, started the game brilliantly and drew at least three good saves from Switzerland's Yann Sommer within the first 10 minutes. This also included a sixth-minute brilliant double-save. First, he stopped Campbell’s shot and then palmed away a superb downward header by Borges that looked like it was destined to hit the back of the net.
However, their domination fizzled out as the game wore on and as Switzerland grew into the game. Switzerland had their goal in the 31st minute as Dzemaili scored after Lichtsteiner put in a cross from the right and Embolo headed it down into the path of Dzemaili, who slammed it into the net. The Swiss controlled the game from that moment on and it looks like they'd advance to the next round while Costa Rica might have to return home without winning a match. But all of that can change in the next 45 minutes.
That's the half-time whistle!!
Minute 37 -- Yellow card to Lichtsteiner.
Minute 33 -- Dzemaili almost gets his second. He unleashes a fierce shot that deflected wide off Gonzalez.
Minute 31 (GOAL!!)-- Dzemaili scores!! Dzemaili scores!! Lichtsteiner puts in a cross from the right and Embolo heads it down into the path of Dzemaili, who slams it into the net.
Minute 29 -- Joel Campbell is shown a yellow card for elbowing Manuel Akanji.
Minute 24 -- Shaqiri leads a Switzerland counter and passes the ball to onrushing Lichesteiner on the right. The right-back looks to put a cross into the box but his cross is blocked.
Minute 20-- Campbell and Colindres combine on the left edge of the box and Colindres unleashes a left-footed shot which is palmed round by the diving Sommer.
Minute 10 -- Colindres hits the bar! The Costa Rican approaches from the left and curls a beauty that beat the keeper and clattered off the underside of the bar. Costa Rica off to a great start here.
Minute 6-- Switzerland's Sommer makes a stunning double save! First from a Campbell shot; the second was exceptional. Borges's superb downward header was going in the corner before Sommer dived full length to his right and somewhere brushed it onto the post.
Peeeeeeeeeppppp!!! And it begins..
Line-ups out:
Switzerland (4-2-3-1) Sommer; Lichtsteiner, Schar, Akanji, Rodriguez; Behrami, Xhaka; Shaqiri, Dzemaili, Embolo; Gavranovic.
Costa Rica (3-4-2-1) Navas; Acosta, Waston, Gonzalez; Gamboa, Borges, Guzman, Oviedo; Colindres, Bryan Ruiz; Campbell.
Match Preview:
Switzerland and Costa Rica in Fifa World Cup 2018: The Swiss have four points from two games, while Costa Rica, who sit at the end of Group E table, are already out after losing both their matches. Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka scored goals to seal a memorable 2-1 win against Serbia in their last game. They had also frustrated Brazil in their first match which ended in a draw after Philippe Coutinho scored from his trademark curler shot. Costa Rica lost their first game against Serbia owing to a sublime free-kick goal by Aleksandar Kolarov. The Costa Ricans worked hard in their second game against group favourites Brazil but their resistance was outdone after Coutinho and Neymar struck late goals to seal a 2-0 win and end Costa Rica's World Cup campaign.
Team report:
Switzerland: Although a draw is all they need to qualify for the Round of 16, the Swiss will be going for the win. They have had problems going forward in recent games, and manager Petkovic looks set to leave out Haris Seferovic for the first time this tournament. Mario Gavranovic or Breel Embolo will step in as his replacement. Their aim will be to score early and to take the initiative. (Source: Fifa.com)
Costa Rica: There's nothing to lose and all to gain. Costa Rica are yet to score and the team are looking to perform well in this final match in order to win and thereby bid farewell to the World Cup with the satisfaction of a victory. They played with admirable tactical awareness against Serbia and Brazil, but were ineffective in the final third. This match will be no different, but Los Ticos will have to improve up front if they wish to defeat a team like Switzerland. (Source: Fifa.com)
Trivia: Costa Rica have now gone five matches without a win at the World Cup and 368 minutes without scoring, their longest goal drought in the tournament’s history.
When and Where to watch: Switzerland vs Costa Rica
Time: 11:30 PM (IST)
In today's Group E match, Switzerland vs Costa Rica match will take place in Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 11:30 PM (IST).
The match will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.
Switzerland vs Costa Rica will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.
Possible Line-ups:
Switzerland: Yann Sommer; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji, Ricardo Rodriguez; Valon Behrami, Granit Xhaka; Xherdan Shaqiri, Blerim Dzemaili, Steven Zuber; Mario Gavranovic.
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Johnny Acosta, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Cristian Gamboa; Celso Borges, David Guzman, Bryan Ruiz, Christian Bolanos; Marco Urena.
