Image source, .

Granit Xhaka may not be fully appreciated at Arsenal. That may well be putting it lightly.

But he is absolutely integral to Switzerland and in European qualifying, not a single player on the continent played more passes than him. In fact, he was 151 clear of the next man.

In the Premier League he made 3,116 passes in 2017-18, the most in Europe’s elite leagues bar Napoli’s Jorginho (3,200).

At just 25 he already has 64 international caps. So what's all the negativity for? Arsenal fans, hit me up on #bbcfootball.

Quiet so far in this though as Costa Rica run wild...

I do hope that's not his natural look?

Image source, Getty Images

Ditto.

Image source, Getty Images

Switzerland are leading a charned life ladies and gents. Daniel Colindres presses his man high up the pitch and wins the ball back. A quick look up and he sees Yann Sommer a touch off his line. With a mix of power and dip he fires from 25 yards, it's exquisite and it thunders off the underside of the bar.

What an effort. So, so close.

Image source, EPA

Jodmos: Just want Costa Rica to score. Last team who haven't.

They nearly have already Jodmos.

Image source, Reuters

Three decent efforts in as many minutes, this time Daniel Colindres takes a shot on left footed from 20 yards and it powers over.

Costa Rica are going home but not without a fight.

What is happening here? Hello indeed. Costa Rica having a right go.

Moments after a penalty appeal they see Joel Campbell drive from 25 yards, forcing a diving Yann Sommer save. The ball is then crossed in immediately and Celso Borges heads low at the corner, prompting another fine diving stop.

They are up for this it seems and the Swiss are almost caught cold.

Image source, EPA

A lively start as Costa Rica claim a penalty. Joel Campbell crosses and the ball deflects off an arm. It glanced the defenders arm at point-blank range. Nothing doing.

Xherdan Shaqiri looks bang up for this. He chases what everyone else treats as a lost cause and gets the ball on the dead ball line. With a nutmeg, he's into a dangerous area and cuts the ball back, allowing Mario Gavranovic to side foot at goal, prompting a block.

Xherdan Shaqiri drills a free-kick into the box from the left flank, it's a low one and it fizzes past everyone to go for a goal kick.

Costa Rica quickly build an attack of their own down the left flank but the cross lacks technique and goes over for a goal kick. Wrap your foot around it!

Breel Embolo starts positively for Switzerland, trying to take a man on and he's brought down some 35 yards from goal. A chance to deliver...

Image source, Reuters

We are underway. Switzerland know they can fall over the line with a draw. But will they go for another momentum-building win?

Image source, .

• A draw for Brazil against Serbia will be enough for a place in the knockout stage.
• If both Brazil and Switzerland win then the group winner could be decided by disciplinary records: Brazil have three yellows, Switzerland four. If they both lose then it will be the second and third places potentially decided by the same process.
• The Swiss will qualify with a draw against Costa Rica, or if Serbia lose to Brazil.
• If Switzerland lose by one goal and Serbia draw, second place will be decided by goals scored. If the sides finish with identical records then Switzerland would go through because they beat Serbia.
• Serbia will qualify if they defeat Brazil. A draw would be enough if Switzerland lose to Costa Rica by more than one goal.

A reminder of how we line-up as this gets underway. Two changes for Switzerland, three for Costa Rica. I will remind you of all the permutations in a moment...

There are players in this tournament who could do with taking a leaf from the book of this young lady when it comes to creative touch.

Image source, EPA

The Costa Rica anthem plays. Joel Campbell stands head bowed, eyes closed. Good to see. The rest of them sing triumphantly.

As many a great manager has said. "Go out there and enjoy it lads".

Still the players stand in the tunnel, each one clasping the hand of a mascot who is smiling from ear to ear. The flags are out on the pitch, the referees are in their luminous yellow attire, what are we waiting for?

Here we go. They stride forward with the purpose of a man about to tackle some DIY.

Image source, EPA

Valon Behrami is at his fourth World Cup and from what I have seen, he's playing out of his skin in a deep-midfield role. The former West Ham man, now 33, is pivotal in this system as his constant hassling wins so much ball, allowing others around him to flourish.

He has 81 caps for his country but almost didn't register on their radar at all. Born in Kosovo, Behrami and his family fled to Switzerland when he was 10 and sought refuge.

Five years later Swiss authorities ordered the family to leave but by then Behrami was a fledgling athlete. A petition of over 2,000 signatures helped overturn the decision and the Behramis stayed.

Costa Rica reached the quarter-final stage in Brazil four years ago so to leave Russia without a point would be some fall from grace. In that last World Cup they claimed seven group points, beating Uruguay and Italy.

A defeat today would mean they end a group on zero points for just the second time in five World Cup outings.

No wonder they looked to united in training. No one wants a big fat zero on the big stage.

Image source, Getty Images

We have players in the tunnel. Handshakes aplenty. Switzerland in red and black tracksuit tops. They've splashed out. Costa Rica just in white shirts.

Image source, EPA

After their heroics of 2014, Costa Rica may well have looked at this group and wondered if they could again beat the odds and win through.

But this time around, 10 of their squad are over the age of 30. Has that been the critical factor in them falling short?