Switzerland earned a stunning draw against Brazil in their World Cup betting opener. It may as well have been a win. And in a practical sense it was. The tie match will help the Swiss greatly in getting to the Final 16. Meanwhile Serbia got a hard won victory over plucky Costa Rica. While not easy the Serbs met their objective of getting out alive. Their win over Los Ticos is imperative towards the ultimate goal. A berth in the round of 16. Now Switzerland faces Costa Rica. Its one of the most even Group matches on the board.
2018 FIFA World Cup Switzerland vs. Serbia
Date and Time: Friday, June 22, 2018, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
World Cup Betting Online Odds at SBG:
| Team | Spread | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | +2 (-110) | 2½ (-137) |  |
| Brazil | -2 (-105) | 2½ (+122) | |
| |||
2018 FIFA World Cup TV Coverage: FOX
Teams Game 1
Aleksandar Kolarov scored a devastating free kick to beat Costa Rica. Serbia took the lead at the 56 minute mark. They then held off a strong Costa Rican effort. But the Swiss made the big World Cup betting headlines. Brazil was heavily favored. And also had the superior talent depth. Yet Switzerland was able to tie the game at the 50 minute mark. Steven Zuber scored on a corner that caught Brazil off guard. It was a great lesson in being opportunistic. Switzerland tied Brazil with discipline. Extreme organization was their equalizer.
Serbia
Serbia has returned to the World Cup after missing out in 2014. The Serbs may not get a lot of sportsbook online attention. But they are a star studded group. And a threat against anyone they face on the pitch. In 2010 they won their qualifying group. And that is the vision for coach Mladen Krstajic. Krstajic has the task of keeping Serbia’s focus. Mental errors have been their problems in the past. If Serbia can get their heads right they have the talent for a run. And that talent begins at midfield.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Serbia is led by Aleksandar Mitrovic. The center forward had six goals in qualifying. At the age of 26 he has plenty of upside. His best days are ahead. Against Switzerland a clutch performance by Mitrovic would be gold. This match is likely a playoff for a knockout stage slot.
Switzerland
Switzerland is finely tuned by coach Vladimir Petkovic. While not super talented they are incredibly disciplined. La Nati plays as a unit as well as any team at Russia. They also have strong functional depth. It is not spectacularly talented. But it all fits well together. Scoring is the concern for Switzerland. Where will the goals come from? Tight team structure is a great starting point. But at the end of the day goals must be produced. The formula was enough for the upset draw in the opener. But its not sustainable long term.
Matchup to Watch
Serbia has one big World Cup betting matchup advantage here. Their superior offensive ability should be the difference. Switzerland will not make it easy. But in a tight game the Serbs will have more scoring potential. And the Swiss lack ability to finish off any Serbia breakdowns.
World Cup Betting Odds Picks
In this showdown Serbia rates the call.
World Cup Betting Online Pick: Serbia
World Cup Betting Online Score Prediction: Serbia 1, Switzerland 0
Catch highlights of Serbia’s win over Costa Rica!