Brazil’s young team has quality and balance and will be aiming for their sixth title. But the road to glory isn’t easy and Switzerland, Serbia and Costa Rica would love to make it even tougher. A tantalising battle is on the cards

BRAZIL

BEST FINISH 
Champions 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

2014 RESULT 
Fourth

Brazil’s worldwide fame in football is not really misplaced when one looks at their incredible World Cup history. The only team to appear in each edition, and champions five times, Brazil epitomises the jogo bonito or the “beautiful game”.

After losing at home to Uruguay in the final match in 1950, they won back-to-back titles in 1958 and 1962 and won their third in Mexico in 1970. This was a team that many consider to be the greatest of all time. After a 24-year drought that included heart-breaking eliminations in 1982 and 1986, they won again in 1994 with Romario and Bebeto doing the star turn. A rejuvenated Ronaldo, back from a series of knee injuries, helped them win the title in Japan in 2002. Since then, they have disappointed their fans. But the worst showing was perhaps at home in 2014, when they were crushed 1-7 by Germany in the semi-final. However, they seem to be a determined lot heading to Russia. Since coach Tite took over in mid-2016, they have lost only once in 19 games — a friendly against Argentina. Brazil were the first team to qualify for this edition with impressive wins including a 3-0 victory over Argentina. Brazil were languishing in sixth place, outside the qualification spots, after six matches but Dunga’s sacking and Tite’s arrival turned things around. Brazil won 10 of their next 12 games to top the group. 

COACH 

Tite: Like his three predecessors, Tite is from the rugged southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The 56-year-old (real name Adenor Leonardo Bachi) has his eyes focused firmly on the goal ahead. Tite has already brought about considerable changes. They are now more about organisation and flair.   

WATCH OUT FOR

Neymar: One of the finest players of this generation, he has Brazil’s hopes riding on his shoulders. But Neymar will be returning from an injury-induced three-month break and one has to wait and see whether the star striker can make good use of the rest — something that most of his opponents did not get. His spectacular goal in a friendly against Croatia, on return from the injury, has delighted his fans and has helped them to breathe easier. How influential the 26-year-old will be for Brazil would depend, however, on how he could cope with the huge pressure in Russia.With 53 goals in 83 matches for Brazil Neymar is the fourth-highest goalscorer for his national team. 

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Cassio
Defenders: Danilo, Fagner, Marcelo, Filipe Luis, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Miranda, Pedro Geromel 
Midfielders:Casemiro, Fernandinho, Paulinho, Fred, Renato Augusto, Philippe Coutinho, Willian, Douglas Costa 
Forwards:Neymar, Taison, Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino

COSTA RICA

BEST FINISH 
Quarter finals 2014

2014 RESULT 
Quarter finals

For Costa Rica, it will be their fifth World Cup appearance. Ranked 25th in the world, Costa Rica would be keen on improving their best-ever performance — a quarter  final finish in Brazil, where they lost to the Netherlands on penalties. Few had then expected Costa Rica to get out of a group featuring three former World Cup winners — England, Italy and Uruguay. However, some spirited and enterprising display saw the Central Americans top that group and beat Greece on penalties to make the last 16. Recent form though suggests Costa Rica will need to improve hugely in Russia.

COACH 

Oscar Ramirez: The 53-year-old took over the national team reins in 2015 when he was promoted from his role as assistant to Paulo Wanchope. During qualification, he stuck largely with his experienced core group of players but has gradually integrated a younger set of emerging talent.

WATCH OUT FOR

Bryan Ruiz: His goal-scoring prowess was one of the major factors that got Costa Rica to the Cup finals. The 32-year-old  has the ability to play as an advanced midfielder, a striker or a winger. Costa Rica’s captain had made his national debut way back in 2005 and has since made 110 appearances, scoring 23 goals. 

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Patrick Pemberton, Leonel Moreira
Defenders:  Cristian Gamboa, Ian Smith, Ronald Matarrita, Bryan Oviedo, Oscar Duarte, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Francisco Calvo, Kendall Waston, Johnny Acosta 
Midfielders: David Guzman, Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges, Randall Azofeifa, Rodney Wallace, Bryan Ruiz, Daniel Colindres, Christian Bolanos 
Forwards:Joel Campbell, Johan Venegas, Marco Urena

SWITZERLAND

BEST FINISH 
Quarter finals 1934, 1938, 1954

2014 RESULT 
Round of 16

Ranked sixth in the world now, Switzerland have appeared in 10 World Cups, reaching the quarter finals in 1934, 1938 and again in 1954 when they hosted the tournament. They missed six tournaments in a row from 1970 to 1990 inclusive. They did not concede a goal in the 2006 tournament, when they lost to Ukraine on penalties in the second round, failing to convert any of their spot kicks in a 3-0 shootout defeat. Switzerland have lost only one match, away to Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers, since Euro 2016. They beat Greece 1-0 and Panama 6-0 in their two March friendlies. However, apart from Portugal, they have been not really been tested as they have not played against top-level opponents in nearly two years. Switzerland are in a three-way battle for qualification, with Brazil expected to win the group comfortably. But even Costa Rica had made the quarter finals in Brazil, so the Swiss army will not really have an easy time. 

COACH 

Vladimir Petkovic: He replaced Ottmar Hitzfeld as coach after the 2014 Cup. He is known to be a tough coach, who expects his players to dominate, no matter who the opponents are. 

WATCH OUT FOR

Granit Xhaka: Granit Xhaka is one who can dictate the pace of a game, and is known being a superb reader of the game with outstanding anticipation and incisive passing. But he also has a dark side, and his reckless tackling and poor defensive positioning may cost his team dear. But Swiss fans will hope that the volatile midfielder, who has 61 national caps, will keep his temper in check . 

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Roman Buerki, Yvon Mvogo, Yann Sommer
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Johan Djourou, Nico Elvedi, Michael Lang, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Jacques-Francois Moubandje, 
Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schaer 
Midfielders:Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, Gelson Fernandes, Remo Freuler, Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Steven Zuber, Denis Zakaria 
Forwards:Josip Drmic, Breel Embolo, Mario Gavranovic, Haris Seferovic

SERBIA

BEST FINISH
Fourth 1930, 1962 

2014 RESULT 
Did not qualify

Serbia featured in one previous tournament as an independent nation, the 2010 World Cup when they made a group-stage exit after a shock win over Germany and defeats by Ghana and Australia. As part of the Serbia and Montenegro state union, the team made a group-stage exit in 2006 and reached the last 16 as part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (also consisting of Serbia and Montenegro) in the 1998 World Cup. Ranked 35th in the world, Serbia’s qualifying campaign has been rather strong, with six wins, three draws and one defeat.

COACH 

Mladen Krstajic: The 44-year old Bosnian Serb from Zenica is a novice at the top level, with the Group E opener against Costa Rica in Samara on June 17 set to be his competitive debut as a head coach in any category. 

WATCH OUT FOR

Nemanja Matic: The Manchester United midfielder’s form will be of crucial importance to Serbia, if the Balkans are to move ahead and reach the tournament’s last 16 for the first time as an independent nation.  Matic may lack the quick feet and sublime passing of the most talented, but he has a bunch of tricks up his sleeves that makes him as asset.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic, Predrag Rajkovic, Marko Dmitrovic
Defenders: Aleksandar Kolarov, Branislav Ivanovic, Dusko Tosic, Antonio Rukavina, Milos Veljkovic, Milan Rodic, Uros Spajic, Nikola Milenkovic 
Midfielders:Nemanja Matic, Luka Milivojevic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Marko Grujic, Adem Ljajic, Dusan Tadic, Filip Kostic, Andrija Zivkovic, Nemanja Radonjic 
Forwards:Aleksandar Mitrovic, Aleksandar Prijovic, Luka Jovic

BACK-VOLLEY: 1980S

1982 WORLD CUP

• The 1982 World Cup, the 12th edition of the meet, was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. 
• The tournament was won by Italy, who defeated West Germany 3-1 in the final. It was Italy's third World Cup win and first since 1938. Algeria, Cameroon, Honduras, Kuwait and New Zealand made their first appearances in the finals.
• The tournament featured the first-ever penalty shoot-out in World Cup competition.
• The 1982 competition used a unique format. The first round was a round-robin group stage containing six groups of four teams each. Two points were awarded for a win and one for a draw, with goal difference used to separate teams equal on points. The top two teams in each group advanced. In the second round, the twelve remaining teams were split into four groups of three teams each, with the winner of each group progressing to the knockout semi-final stage.
• In the first round of Group 3, Hungary defeated El Salvador 10-1, equalling the largest margin of victory ever recorded in the finals (Hungary over South Korea 9-0 in 1954, and Yugoslavia over Zaire 9-0 in 1974).
• For the first time, the World Cup finals expanded from 16 to 24 teams. 
• Italy became the first team to advance from the first round without winning a game, drawing all three, and also the only World Cup winner to draw or lose three matches at the finals. 
• Italy's 40-year-old captain-goalkeeper Dino Zoff became the oldest-ever player to win the World Cup. This was the first World Cup in which teams from all six continental confederations participated in the finals, something that did not happen again until 2006.
• Seven stadiums in 14 cities hosted the tournament, a record until the 2002 tournament which was hosted by 
20 stadiums. 
• Paolo Rossi received the Golden Boot for scoring six goals. In total, 146 goals were scored by 100 different players, with only one of them credited as own goal.

1986 WORLD CUP

• The 1986 World Cup was held in Mexico from May 31 to June 29. Canada, Denmark and Iraq made their first appearances at the final stage.
• The title was won by Argentina (their second title, after winning in 1978). Argentina was captained by the 25-year old Diego Maradona, who played a large part in his team’s success. 
• Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal, as well as another voted 'Goal of the Century', in the same quarter final against England. These were two of the five goals that Maradona scored during the tournament, and he also created another five for his teammates. Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca. 
• Maradona was the Golden Ball winner as the best player of the tournament, while Gary Lineker of England won the Golden Boot as the leading scorer of the World Cup with six goals.
• The 1986 World Cup saw the appearance of an audience phenomenon dubbed the Mexican wave, which became popular worldwide .
• Colombia was originally chosen as hosts by Fifa in June 1974. However, the Colombian authorities eventually declared on 5 November 1982 that they could not afford to host the World Cup under the terms that Fifa demanded because of economic concerns. Mexico was selected on May 20, 1983 as the replacement hosts, beating the bids of Canada and the United States (who eventually hosted the 1994 World Cup), and thereby became the first nation to host two World Cups. The first one was in 1970.
• A severe earthquake in September 1985, eight months before the tournament, cast doubt over Mexico’s ability to organize the event, but the stadia were not affected and it was decided to go ahead with the preparations.
• The official mascot of the 1986 World Cup was Pique, a jalapeno pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine. 
Source: Wikipedia