Week 11 NFL Moneyline Underdogs
Mike Randle
Costa Rica World Cup Team Preview
Costa Rica
FIFA Ranking: 31
Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez
Federation: CONCACAF
Group: Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica
Odds to win World Cup: +100000, Caesars
Odds to win Group E: +5500, FanDuel Sportsbook
Odds to advance in Group E: +1400, BetMGM
How did Costa Rica qualify for the World Cup?
Costa Rica’s qualifying was a tale of two stories. In their first seven matches, Costa Rica went 1-3-3. In their last seven they went 6-0-1. This allowed them to finish fourth and earn a playoff against New Zealand. CONCACAF and AFC have an intercontinental playoff for the final World Cup berth. Costa Rica won that match 1-0.
Who is Costa Rica’s most important player?
Keylor Navas
I am a sucker for Joel Campbell, but as seen in qualifying, Costa Rica lives because of Keylor Navas. Navas is a world class goalkeeper for PSG and the most decorated Costa Rican player in history. It is not a matter of opinion, but fact, that Costa Rica would not be in the World Cup without him. The way Costa Rica survives is by parking the bus and relying on Navas to make critical saves, which then allows them to counterattack.
What are Costa Rica’s strengths, weaknesses, style of play and form?
Expect Costa Rica to play a super defensive 5-4-1 formation.
There is no sugarcoating it, Costa Rica is going to park the bus; especially against Spain and Germany. You will see very little possession and very long passes from Costa Rica where they hope one connects for a counter-attacking goal.
Costa Rica’s strength is their defense, but realistically it’s Keylor Navas. Again, Navas is a world-class keeper and the biggest reason they are able to stay so organized defensively is because of his ability to communicate to his defense AND most importantly bail them out if a team is able to get through.
Their biggest weakness is their attack. This is not a team that is going to look to score goals often, and rightfully so as they do not have the attacking talent to do so.
What is Costa Rica’s World Cup Outlook?
Not good. If Costa Rica is able to get a point out of either Germany or Spain it will be considered a huge success. If they make it out of the group stage it will be considered the biggest upset of the group stage. Costa Rica’s only real shot for points is against Japan.
Best Costa Rica World Cup Bet
Costa Rica, Lowest Scoring Team (+800, FanDuel Sportsbook)
I don’t expect this team to score the entire tournament, with a ceiling of probably 1 goal. Their best chances are from dead-ball spots like corners or free-kicks. But even then, there will be very limited opportunities.
Costa Rica World Cup Roster
GK: Keylor Navas, Esteban Alvarado, Patrick Sequeira.
DF: Francisco Calvo, Juan Pablo Vargas, Kendall Waston, Oscar Duarte, Daniel Chacon, Keysher Fuller, Carlos Martínez, Bryan Oviedo, Ronald Matarrita.
MF: Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges, Youstin Salas, Roan Wilson, Gerson Torres, Douglas Lopez, Jewison Bennette, Alvaro Zamora, Anthony Hernández, Brandon Aguilera, Bryan Ruiz.
FW: Joel Campbell, Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas.
Group A | Ecuador Senegal Netherlands Qatar
Group B | Iran Wales USA England
Group C | Mexico Saudi Arabia Poland Argentina
Group D | Tunisia Denmark Australia France
Group E | Japan Germany Costa Rica Spain
Group F | Croatia Morocco Canada Belgium
