A surprise package from North America, two tireless European battlers and a top nation looking for redemption. Group E holds Costa Rica, Switzerland, Serbia and Brazil, football nations with an abundance of history, but here are some things you probably didn't know about the titans in Group E.
1. Flashback
Brazil and Switzerland have faced each other only once in the World Cup Finals. Back in the 1950 World Cup hosted by Brazil, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw. Who could forget Jacques Fatton’s 88th minute equaliser to salvage a point for Switzerland?
2. Surprise package
Costa Rica shocked the world with their triumphant burst into the quarter-finals in 2014 and they have some steady form when it comes to group matches on the big stage. In four qualifications to the World Cup finals Costa Rica have failed to record a win in the group stage only once, in 2006. Meanwhile, in 11 World Cup matches, Los Ticos have recorded four wins and two draws. Not bad.
3. Selecao Poachers
Brazil’s one-to-watch Gabriel Jesus was the most prolific Group E player in World Cup qualifying with seven goals while Neymar contributed to 15 goals in qualifying. The Brazilians certainly aren’t short of the firepower they've lacked in recent tournaments.
4. Veterans of the game
The oldest player in Group E is 36-year old Costa Rican goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton who plays his club football back home for Alajuelense. He’d be hoping to make an appearance after making the 2014 squad but failing to find any minutes ahead of Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
5. When it rains it pours!
Switzerland are no strangers to high scoring matches. In the last edition they suffered a shellacking at the hands of France, blitzed 5-2 in the group stage. They also played a part in the highest scoring match in World Cup history, losing to Austria 7-5 in the quarter-final of their hosting of the 1954 World Cup.
6. La Comadreja
Bryan Ruiz is Group E’s most capped player at international level with 101 caps for Costa Rica to go with 23 goals. The skipper for Los Ticos has scored some memorable goals, including the winner against Italy in the group stage of the last World Cup and scoring to send Costa Rica to the last eight against Greece.
7. A first time for everything
Renato Augusto is the first Brazilian to be picked for the World Cup Finals playing his club football in China. Augusto is frontman for Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan and played in every single qualifying match for The Selecao, scoring three goals.
8. It's a long road to the top
Brazil, Costa Rica and Serbia all qualified automatically for the World Cup after finishing top of their groups. Switzerland was the only team to have to endure the play-offs after finishing second in their group. They needed only one goal in Belfast and a 0-0 draw at home to secure their place at the big dance at the expense of Northern Ireland.
9. Campeoes
Brazil have now qualified for every single World Cup to-date. That’s all 21 editions of the World Cup! In that time they’ve been winners on five occasions.
10. Young Blood
Serbian head coach Mladen Krstajic is the equal second-youngest manager at this year’s tournament at 44 years of age. He shares the crown with Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.
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