Serbia has beaten Costa Rica 1-0 in the first match, and the Eagles will clinch the knock-out phase if they win against Switzerland this Friday, June 22nd, 2018, at Kaliningrad Stadium. On the other side, Switzerland upset Brazil in a 1-1 draw, so they cannot afford a loss against Serbia which promises a dramatic battle as things are hitting up in the Group E.
Serbia vs. Switzerland
3-Way: 1: Serbia +210; X: +210 Draw; 2: Switzerland +160 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread 0: Serbia +114; Switzerland -125
Total +2: Over -115; Under +100
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +100/-133
SERBIA
The Eagles took the first toward the Round of 16 with the nice 1-0 victory over Costa Rica on last Sunday, showing some sturdy defense and a well-organized play in the middle of the park. They could win with a bigger margin, but the striker Aleksandar Mitrovic managed to miss a couple of huge scoring opportunities, so the Eagles should be pleased with a narrow victory. The captain Aleksandar Kolarov scored a real beauty from the free-kick to take three points to his team, so now, the Eagles should focus on the next fixture with the Swiss.
The key factor in Serbia’s eventual success at the 2018 World Cup should be Eagles’ excellent midfield, as Nemanja Matic, Sergej-Milinkovic-Savic, and Dusan Tadic are all top-notch players who can make a lot of damage to any rival at this tournament, while a reliable defense is a must. The bookies favor Serbia at +400 to reach the Quarter-Finals in Russia, while the odds on Eagles to beat the 2018 World Cup are set at +12500, as it’s still early to talk about these heights.
SWITZERLAND
The Red Crusaders put on a fight against Brazil in their first match of the Group E, and it paid off with a momentous 1-1 stalemate. Switzerland started the game pretty tensely, and after just 20 minutes into the first half, they were one-goal down, but in the second half, they began to play more physically, insisting on a high pressure whenever it was possible. The midfielder Steven Zuber scored the equalizer with a close-range header early in the second half, but the Nati was pretty lucky to get one point in the end.
In the last ten minutes of the game, Brazil had some excellent scoring opportunities, while Switzerland defended with all ten men. However, the Swiss deserved a draw, as their defensive block was well-organized, and they knew exactly what’s needed to be done, battling bravely to make it happen on the pitch. At the moment, Switzerland is at +10000 to win the 2018 World Cup title, while the odds on the Quarter-Finals are set at +400 on BetDSI Sportsbook.
Serbia vs. Switzerland – Match and Odds Breakdown
This is a big game for both Serbia and Switzerland, as the potential loser will be in dire straits ahead of the ultimate game of the group stage, while with a draw, the Swiss should be more satisfied than Serbia who will meet mighty Brazil in the Matchday 3. Hereof, the Eagles will have to look for a win here to eventually secure the Round of 16 spot before the clash with Selecao, but the loss against the Nati is not an option, for sure. On the other side, Switzerland will be alive even with a draw, and with a potential victory over Costa Rica, they should qualify for the next round.
Considering the importance of this tilt, the bettors can expect a cautious approach on both sides of the field, as one mistake could be lethal. The pressure will be huge, so no one wants to concede early in the game. The odds on the Over/Under 2.5 Goals are set at +140/-189 which tells you a lot about bookmakers’ expectations for this match, while the wages on the under 1.5 goals are at +170.
I expect to see a great battle in the midfield, and not necessarily the tightest clash of the tournament so far, as one goal could absolutely change the course. Whoever concedes the opener will have to push forward, so I would rather wager on the over 2 goals at -115. However, I will go with a draw, as I just cannot separate these two sides. Serbia probably possesses more quality in the team than the Swiss, but the Nati has an exceptional character that always makes them a tough opponent to beat.
The Pick: Draw (+210)
