TEAM NEWS
Brazil forward Neymar will be fit to face Switzerland after making his first start since February in their final World Cup warm-up match with Austria.
The 26-year-old required an operation on a fractured foot and has played just 129 minutes since – scoring twice.
Switzerland, who have lost only once in their last 22, have key men Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri available.
Arsenal’s Xhaka was said to be “very relieved” after suffering an injury scare in training at the end of May.
MATCH PREVIEW
Brazil’s players insist the 7-1 humiliation to Germany at the 2014 World Cup has now been forgotten, but there is no doubt that Tite’s 2018 squad will be aiming to set the record straight in Russia.
Only six of the class of 2014 – including Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar – have survived in an exciting side that boasts attacking riches, as well as a sturdier defence, which saw the five-time winners qualify for the tournament with four games to spare.
Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic has made no secret of the fact that his resilient side, who are ranked sixth in the world, will be happy to ruin the spectacle against their toughest Group F opponents.
The Swiss, who had to settle for a play-off place despite winning nine of their 10 qualifying matches, held Spain to a 1-1 draw in their build up to the tournament and most recently defeated Japan 2-0.
VIEW FROM BOTH CAMPS
Brazil defender Thiago Silva: “After three months, and having played just a game and a half, he [Neymar] is already playing at a high level. Nobody expected that. Not even him.
“The 7-1 is no longer in our heads, we have the level to be world champions again and re-write our history.”
Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic: “We’re not here to make a lovely match but to win it.
“We’ll try to be as organised as possible, you need to provoke a team like Brazil into making mistakes so you can create opportunities, that’s the mentality you need to have because we’ll need to score one or two goals to win the game.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Brazil are my pick to win the World Cup, because the players they have got in midfield and attack are just frightening.
Switzerland, in contrast, are more workmanlike but, as a team, they are greater than the sum of their parts. I don’t see them causing Brazil too many problems, but they can finish second in Group E.
Prediction: 2-0
