As they enter their third consecutive World Cup, Costa Rica will be looking to repeat their 2014 victory.
Group E features Spain, Germany, and Japan, and the once-promising quarter-finalists will be trying to escape an early exit once again after failing to maintain their 2018 momentum and falling out in the group stage.
Here’s how Costa Rica is likely to do in the tournament.
When does Costa Rica play their group games?
In this matchup, Spain will take on Costa Rica (November 23, 16:00 GMT)
Contrast: Japan vs. Costa Rica (November 27, 10:00 GMT)
Germany takes on Costa Rica (December 1, 19:00 GMT)
Spain takes on Costa Rica Played 3, Drew 1, and Lost 2 in head-to-head matchups.
Head-to-Head record: Costa Rica 4; Japan 3
Comparing Costa Rica and Germany Head-to-Head stats: 1-1
Germany Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
Japan Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
Spain Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
What are the 26 players who will represent Costa Rica in the World Cup?
Keylor Navas (PSG), Esteban Alvarado (Herediano), and Patrick Sequeira (Chelsea) are the goalkeepers (CD Lugo)
Francisco Calvo (Konyaspor), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios FC), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Oscar Duarte (Al-Wehda), Daniel Chacon (Colorado RapidKeyserKeysher Fuller (Herediano), Carlos Martinez (San Carlos), Bryan Oviedo (Real Salt Lake), and Ronald Matarrita (Real Salt Lake) are all great examples of central defenders (Cincinnati)
In the middle, we have: Yeltsin Tejeda (Herediano), Celso Borges (Alajuelense), Youstin Salas (Saprissa), Roan Wilson (Grecia), Gerson Torres (Herediano), Douglas Lopez (Herediano), Jewisson Bennette (Sunderland), Alvaro Zamora (Saprissa), Anthony Hernandez (Puntarenas FC), Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham (Alajuelense)
Up front, we have Joel Campbell (Leon), Anthony Contreras (Herediano), and Johan Venegas (Alajuelense)
Tell me about the Costa Rican players that had to withdraw from the World Cup due to injuries.
Costa Rica has a single major threat.
Keylor Navas, a star goalkeeper for PSG, has been chosen for the team despite suffering a back injury in November that has prevented him from playing in any pre-tournament games.
Even if the veteran keeper gets healthy in time for the tournament, he won’t be at full fitness because he hasn’t played any club football this season.
Who are the top athletes for Costa Rica?
Navas, Keylor
Navas won a transfer to Real Madrid after impressing at the 2014 World Cup, and despite being benched at the club level, the 35-year-old continues to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. At this point, Navas has racked up 107 caps for his country.
Joseph Campbell
Joel Campbell, formerly of Arsenal, is currently with Leon of Mexico’s Liga MX. As a national team player, he has racked up an impressive 118 appearances, 25 goals, and 22 assists.
Ruiz, Bryan
Bryan Ruiz, at 37, is Costa Rica’s captain and will be vital to the team’s success from the position of attacking midfielder. He has played for Costa Rica on a regular basis for the past 18 years and is widely considered one of the country’s all-time greats.
The expected Costa Rican starting XI
It is difficult to categorize the Costa Rican team under Luiz Fernando Suarez because they have used a wide variety of formations. Suarez has occasionally deployed a 5-4-1 and might do so here against strong competition, but the 4-2-3-1 looks to have been the norm.
Navas; Fuller, Calvo, Vargas, Matarrita; Tejeda, Borges; Torres, Ruiz, Zamora, and Campbell; are Costa Rica’s expected starting XI.
Costa Rica has had a successful year leading up to the World Cup 2022, losing only one of their 12 games.
They defeated Nigeria 5-0 in a friendly match in November, and they also won 2-0 against Canada and 1-0 against the United States in qualifying, with Mexico being held to a scoreless tie.
The past five results for Costa Rica (all competitions)
A 2-0 victory for Costa Rand ica Nigeria
Uzbekistan loses to two-and-a-half An Example from Costa Rica
Two-two tie in South Korea Representing the country of Costa Rica
The final score was Costa Rica 1, New Zealand 0.
Result: Costa Rica 2, Martinique 0.
In what position do you see Costa Rica finishing the World Cup?
Astoundingly, Costa Rica won their group in 2014, which featured contained heavyweights like England, Italy, and Uruguay. They’ll need another miracle of that magnitude to get it through this one.
Spain and Germany are the overwhelming favorites to advance, therefore Costa Rica will require a result against at least one of those teams plus a win over Japan, neither of which will be easy.
Unfortunately for Costa Rica, they seem to be for looking an early elimination in the face.
It’s safe to assume that the group stage will failedend in failure.
