Costa Rica v Serbia Group E talking points as defensve and attacking styles collide

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  • Serbia and Costa Rica face-off on Sunday (16:00) in World Cup Group E.

    The opener is of huge significance to both teams, given that – along with other group member Switzerland – each of the nations will be battling for a second place qualifying spot behind Brazil.

    The two teams, who will lock horns at the Samara Stadium, have the same goal to progress to round two but are very different in their styles of play.

    Here, we look at the key talking points ahead of the clash.

    Can Costa Rica prove everyone wrong on the biggest stage again?

    Memories of their 2014 run to the quarter-final, their best-ever finish in five finals appearances, will live long for Ticos followers for many years to come.

    But how do they go about topping that?

    It’s a tall order. Oscar Ramirez, who replaced Luis Pinto – the man credited with achieving that feat, has largely kept with the same 4-5-1 system that served the country well in Brazil, built on hard work, pressing and ultimately defensive tactics that require plenty of discipline and team unity.

    It is a formula that worked spectacularly well in qualifying and Costa Rica will be happy to try and frustrate opponents again, relishing their tag of an underdog in most matches they play.

    They have shown little to suggest they will play any other way and release those stringent shackles, perhaps only when they counter-attack through the creativity of veteran Bryan Ruiz centrally.

    Costa Rica should really frustrate Serbia again and will be content doing just that. Let’s not forget they went unbeaten during the last World Cup in normal time, as their defeat came against the Netherlands on penalties.

    Costa Rica's players take part in a training session at Olimpiyets Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 13, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images)

    Costa Rica’s stubborn approach has served them very well.

    Squad is full of talent but reliant on Aleksandar Mitrovic firing

    Coach Mladen Krstajic deserves credit for drawing consistency from a skilled group of players that had previously underwhelmed.

    The 44-year-old, who only succeeded Slavoljub Muslin last October, is very much on side with his playing staff and crucially in sync with experienced stars like Nemanja Matic and skipper Aleksander Kolarov, who have brought into his plans.

    In a sense, opening up against Costa Rica is the perfect match. They know what they are getting and their opponents’ negative style could play into their hands.

    Serbia’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system was constructed to support what is a dynamic and destructive central midfield, protecting a flamboyant playmaking threesome ahead of them.

    Drawing the attention away from a defence in which Kolarov and Branislav Ivanovic are beginning to show their age is certainly a clever move.

    Expect everything to come through Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, a man who is tipped to move to either Manchester United or Real Madrid after the summer showpiece.

    Supported by Matic, if Serbia can allow the 23-year-old to roam and service hitman Alexsander Mitrovic, who enjoyed a stunning second-half of the season at loan to Premier League newcomers Fulham, simply put, they stand a great chance of securing all three points.

    Mitrovic, who could return to parent club Newcastle should Fulham not sign him permanently, scored 50 per cent of his country’s goals – alongside a resurgent Southampton star Dusan Tadic – during a comfortable run through Group D qualifying.

    Serbia's forward Aleksandar Mitrovic (C) runs past teammates during a training session at Serbia's national football team's base camp in Svetlogorsk, some 50 km north of Kaliningrad, on June 14, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images)

    Aleksandar Mitrovic fired Fulham to the Premier League and is main goal threat.

    A real six-pointer…

    An over-used cliché and label for an opening match but a win for either side puts them very much in the ascendancy for a stab at second spot in this group.

    On paper, this match-up doesn’t garner the same kind of lust of a Portugal v Spain in round one, but it does pit two very different styles: defence v attack.

    Costa Rica’s threat is limited to Los Angeles frontman Marco Urena, who is set to play alone up top, while Serbia have far more going for them in the final third.

    The Eagles need to go for the jugular here and test Costa Rica’s resolve, they can’t afford any caution.

    Serbia's coach Mladen Krstajic (L) jokes with his players during a training session at Serbia's national football team base camp in Svetlogorsk, some 50 km north of Kaliningrad, on June 12, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images)

    Serbia’s coach Mladen Krstajic enjoys a good relationship with his players.

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