Switzerland faces Brazil tomorrow in the second Group E game of the FIFA World Cup 2018. Ahead of the fixture, Stephen Lichsteiner admitted that the fit-again Neymar Junior poses a massive threat to his side but also believes that they can cause an upset.
Speaking to the press ahead of the fixture, the Swiss captain said that the Brazilian number 10 was one of the “best and most complete” forwards in the game and it would be “practically impossible” to stop him for the full 90 minutes. The Paris St. Germain man had broken his metatarsal back in February and had been out ever since. He, however, returned for the Seleccao just before the World Cup and has scored two spectacular goals against Croatia and Austria in two successive friendlies.
When pressed about their plans to stop Neymar, the newly signed Arsenal defender said,”It’s about using our strengths, our fullbacks as wingers to go forward, as a weapon. We have to be very cohesive as a team and close the gaps when we confront those individual players. I don’t think this is the moment to release our strategy, we have to keep it under wraps. But we’re going to be running fast.”
A similar sentiment was echoed by the Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic who proclaimed,” They( Brazil) are an excellent team, a team that has undergone great development in the last four years. They’re [now] much more European in their playing style, we need to give them respect. But I much prefer to focus on my team. We’re not here to make a lovely match against Brazil but to win it.”
All eyes will be on the Canarinhos as they set foot on the Rostov Arena in order to push for their sixth World Cup title. The game kicks off at 11:30 PM IST tomorrow. Keep watching this space for more.
