Who will advance second place after Brazil?

Are you sure of this? Where exactly do you get this info? Because I feel like Brazil were much more favorites in 2014, and this World Cup. I'd say they were strong favorites in 1994 and 2002, maybe not top, but pretty strong.

 

For those interested, this is the likely Swiss starting eleven:

G: Yann Sommer (Gladbach)
D: Ricardo Rodriguez (AC Milan)
D: Manuel Akanji (Dortmund)
D: Fabian Schaer (Dep. La Coruna)
D: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus)
M: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)
M: Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna)
M: Valon Behrami (Udinese)
M: Steven Zuber (Hoffenheim)
M: Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke)
F: Haris Seferovic (Benfica)

I expect a tough fight over second place with Serbia and Costa Rica.

 

No Embolo?

 

https://www.publico.pt/2018/06/14/d...candidato-mas-tera-de-quebrar-um-tabu-1834255

 

Not too many Swiss names to be honest

 

No Elvedi? He's brilliant with Gladbach; would be their best CB if he wasn't their only CB who can also play RB...where they have had no one else.

And will Zakaria play at all? I worry he'd shine too brightly for BMG to hold onto him if you started him over one of those veteran midfielders.

 

Not at this point. He's still not back to pre-injury form and Zuber does more defensive work.

(probably needed against Brazil)

Sigh...

Let's address the "mercenary" angle right here right now. Every, and I mean every Swiss player was either born in Switzerland or moved there at a very young age. They all have a strong connection to the country.

No Elvedi or Zakaria in the starting eleven. I would expect Zakaria to start once Behrami retires after the WC.

 

Any of the teams are worthy but I would put my money on Serbia

 

Agreed. I see 11 swiss names in that starting 11.

Sad for both, but happy as someone who roots for their club in BuLi1. They are really ********ing good...zakaria has already shown a higher level than Xhaka did in his time with BMG; and Elvedi is just as impressive the Dane Christensen was before he went back to Chelsea.

 

DEDICATED TO CR7'S FANS IN THE WORLD... IN ALL LANGUAGES! SHARE & DANCE THE BEST SONG ON CRISTIANO RONALDO!!!

 

After today's game Serbia is in a good position, especially if Brazil beats Switzerland tonight. This can influence the Serbs psychologically (positively) - I don't remember when was the last time they won the very first game in the tournament.

 

Where is the poll option for Brazil finishing second?

 

Well Brazil tied Switzerland, but I still think Serbia will advance. Other than the goal, the Swiss did not create anything in attack. Brazil really should have scored at least a second. Brazil were definitely the better side. If Serbia just finds a way to break down the Swiss defense and defends really well themselves, they will be through.

 

With Neymar Brazil may not even advance. He is basically - judged on his latest performance - playing against Brazil with disrupting the flow of the squad.