World Cup: Team E Group Credentials

We have already shared with you the key info you need to know about the World Cup Groups A-D. Here we continue with Group E…
BRAZIL
Coach Tite
After Brazil’s poor performance in the Copa América Centenario in 2016, Tite was appointed manager of the five-time winners of the World Cup. He and his team cruised through qualifying, losing only once in eighteen games, and in doing so, became the first team (apart from the hosts) to qualify for Russia 2018.
Key Player Willian
Known for his prowess at direct free kicks, the attacking midfielder has just won the FA Cup with Chelsea along with the Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year, and also scored four times in qualifying for Russia 2018.
Random Fact
Brazil has appeared at every World Cup to date. No other nation has managed to do this.
FIFA Ranking: 2
SWITZERLAND
Coach Vladimir Petković
Born in Sarajevo, Petković has also managed Sion and Lazio. He coached Switzerland during their UEFA Euro 2016 campaign, where they were eliminated in the last 16 by Poland.
Key Player Xherdan Shaqiri
The Stoke winger is known for scoring stunning goals from outside of the box, and four years ago he notched one of only two hat-tricks in the 2014 World Cup tournament – this was in a 3-0 victory over Honduras.
Random Fact
Switzerland hold an incredible record thanks to their performance in the 2006 World Cup – they are the only nation to have participated in a World Cup finals tournament without conceding a goal. However, they were knocked out in the last 16 on penalties by Ukraine.
FIFA Ranking: 6
COSTA RICA
Coach Óscar Ramírez
Former Costa Rica international Ramírez was first made assistant coach of his country in 2006, before returning to the position again in August 2015. Weeks later, he became the head coach.
Key Player Keylor Navas
One of the nominees for the Golden Glove Award in Brazil 2014, the Real Madrid goalkeeper kept three clean sheets from five matches in Costa Rica’s outstanding run four years ago.
Random Fact
Costa Rica had the best defensive record of all teams in the 2014 tournament, conceding only twice in their journey to the last eight.
FIFA Ranking: 25
SERBIA
Coach Mladen Krstajić
Part of the Serbia and Montenegro team who took part in the 2006 World Cup, Krstajić was first appointed as caretaker in October 2017. He later became manager in December, after Serbia had topped their World Cup qualification group.
Key Player Aleksandar Kolarov
The Serbia and Roma defender scored a crucial goal in a 1-0 win against qualification rivals Republic of Ireland. He is a dangerous dead-ball striker, and was named Serbia’s player of the year in 2011.
Random Fact
Serbia’s first and only ever World Cup victory as an independent nation was against current world champions Germany, a 1-0 victory in Port Elizabeth in 2010.
FIFA Ranking: 35
> Bradley Montgomery