Brazil 1-0 Switzerland: What’s your prediction?

Five-time champions Brazil will face Switzerland on Monday without their talisman Neymar and ever-reliable full back Danilo, both of whom were ruled out by ankle injuries suffered in their opening 2-0 win against Serbia at the World Cup on Thursday.

But the Selecao will have a host of young talent to step in.

Coach Tite will have plenty of options available to replace Neymar against Switzerland and Real Madrid prodigy Rodrygo would be the first option if Tite decides to use the same system with four men up-front alongside Vinicius, Richarlison and Raphinha.

On the other hand, Switzerland have reached the knockout stage in three of their last four World Cups but crashed out at the group stage in 2010. 

Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri said on Sunday that Switzerland were going into their World Cup group-stage match against Brazil with more experience and poise than they did when they drew with the Brazilians at the 2018 World Cup.

Monday's Group G match in Qatar will be the third time that Switzerland have played Brazil at the World Cup. The teams last met in the group stage of the 2018 tournament in Russia, where they drew 1-1.

Shaqiri, who has represented Switzerland in four consecutive World Cups, said the Swiss felt capable of getting a better result against Brazil this time.

"That was a positive outcome," Shaqiri said of the 2018 draw. "We are aware of what we can do and I think we have made progress. We have more experience and have been challenged by greater teams since."

When?

28th November, 10:00 pm, Bangladesh time

Where?

Stadium 974, Ras Abu Aboud, Doha, Qatar.

Capacity: 44,089

Head-to-head

Matches 9

Brazil 3

Switzerland 2

Draw 4

Key stats:

* Brazil, unbeaten in qualifying for Qatar, have won the World Cup five times and are favourites to win a record-extending sixth title.

* Switzerland have reached the knockout stage in three of their last four World Cups -- in 2006, 2014 and 2018 -- but crashed out at the group stage in 2010.

* Brazil have played in every World Cup since 1930 but have not reached the final since they last won the title in 2002.

* Switzerland were unbeaten through qualifying, topping a group that included European champions Italy.

Previous meetings:

* Monday's match will be the third time Brazil will have played Switzerland at the World Cup.

* The teams last met in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where they drew 1-1. They also drew 2-2 at the 1950 World Cup.

*In nine matches against Switzerland, Brazil have recorded three wins, four draws and two losses.

Probable lineups:

Brazil: (4-2-3-1) Alisson (GK), Eder Militao, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Alex Sandro, Casemiro, Fred, Rodrygo, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius Junior

Switzerland: (4-2-3-1) Sommer (GK), Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Sow, Shaqiri, Embolo, Vargas

Prediction: Brazil 1-0 Switzerland

Following is a statbox on Brazil at the World Cup.

FIFA Ranking: 1

Odds: 4-1

Previous tournaments: 

Favourites Brazil are the only country to appear in every World Cup and the only nation to win the tournament five times. After losing at home in the final match in 1950 they won back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962 and then made it three in Mexico in 1970 with what many consider to be the greatest team of all time. After a 24-year drought, they won again in 1994 with a brilliant Romario starring. Ronaldo took over the baton and led Brazil to two consecutive finals, losing to France in 1998 but winning the title in Japan in 2002. Since then they have disappointed, losing in the quarter-finals in 2010 and 2018, with their best result being reaching the semi-final in 2014 only to get humiliated at home with a 7-1 to Germany.

How they qualified:

Brazil qualified easily on top of the South America standings, unbeaten with 14 wins in 17 games, finishing on 45 points, six ahead of second placed Argentina. They scored 40 goals and conceded five.

Following is a statbox on Switzerland at the World Cup.

FIFA Ranking: 15

Odds: 80-1

Previous tournaments:

Switzerland have qualified for a fifth World Cup in a row and been regulars since they first competed in 1934, bar one long 20-year absence between 1970 and 1990. They have appeared in 11 previous editions, reaching the quarter-finals three times, on debut in 1934, 1938 and 1954, when they were also hosts. More recently they have reached the round of 16 in three of the last four finals, but progressed no further.

How they qualified:

Switzerland went unbeaten through qualifying and topped a group that also contained European champions Italy, who were stunned by North Macedonia in the playoffs. Switzerland were top scorers in their group (15 goals in eight games) and only conceded twice in a ruthlessly efficient campaign. They drew both games against Italy and were also held by Northern Ireland, but had the beating of Bulgaria and Lithuania.