Group E of the soccer tournament features former world champions and samba nation Brazil, European nations Switzerland and Serbia, as well as South American nation Costa Rica.
Brazil
1. Oscar Niemeyer designed the capital city of Brasilia. It resembles the shape of an airplane when viewed from the air.
An aerial view of Brasilia, Brazil. Picture: Google Maps
2. The Carnival held in Rio de Janeiro is often cited as the “world’s largest party”.
The Rio de Janeiro Carnaval. Picture: Supplied
3. Brazil finally gained independence from Portugal on September 07, 1822.
4. Feijoada is the national dish of Brazil which is a stew of beans with beef and pork.
Switzerland
1. The official name of Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin. Which means Swiss Confederation.
2. Switzerland makes half of the world's production of luxury watches. The nation has a long history of watch making with a number of leading brands founded in the country including Longines, Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer and Tissot.
A Longines watch, built in Switzerland. Picture: Supplied
3. Switzerland has 4 official languages: Swiss German which is spoken by over two thirds of the population, French, Italian, and Romansh.
4. Switzerland is one of the world's best places to be born, live and be happy – according to consistently high rankings in global reports.
Switzerland was ranked the world's happiest country in 2015, and came second in 2016 (after Denmark) out of 156 countries, while Zurich was named the second best city to live in Mercer's Quality of Living Report 2016 (after Vienna).
Serbia
1. Nikola Tesla one of the most brilliant mind in the history of men was a Serbian. Nikola Tesla Museum is located in the central area of Belgrade, and it is the only museum in the world which preserves the original and personal inheritance of Nikola Tesla.
Serbian inventor - Nikola Tesla. Picture: Wikiquota
2. Devil’s town –Djavolja varoš is one of the most attractive natural phenomena in the world. It is a place of strange forms with a strange name, a complex of stone-capped, spindle-shaped pillars in science referred to as soil pyramids. It consists of 220 soil figures created by soil erosion.
3. Miroslav’s Gospel, written in 1180, is the oldest Serbian manuscript that entered in the register of UNESCO.
4. The only Serbian word that is accepted and used across the world is “vampire”. The word vampire was derived from the Serbian word, 'Vampir'.
Additionally, the first vampire wasn’t count Dracula but Petar Blagojević, about whose vampirism was extensively written about in the Austrian press in 1725.
Costa Rica
1. When you visit Costa Rica and ask a taxi guy to take you to a nightclub, you will be taken to a strip club. Costa Ricans call strip clubs, nightclubs, and nightclubs are referred to as 'discotecas'.
2. Costa Ricans refer to themselves as “Ticos” (males) and “Ticas” (females). Foreigners are often called “Gringos” (males) and “Gringas” (females).
3. Instead of saying “my other half,” Costa Ricans refer to their significant others as their “media naranja,” or “the other half of the orange.”
4. A soda is a small, informal restaurant that serves traditional meals like chicken, rice, beans and salad for R20- R45.