Costa Rica's odds to win the World Cup
750/1
Best World Cup
Quarter-final 2014
2018 World Cup
Group stage
Costa Rica's World Cup Schedule
|
Date |
Fixture |
Location |
|
23rd November 4pm |
Al Thumama Stadium, Al Khor |
|
|
27th November 10am |
Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan |
|
|
1st December 7pm |
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor |
Road to Qatar
Costa Rica's World Cup hopes looked to be in tatters halfway through their campaign, when they had just one win and three draws to show from their opening seven games. However, they conceded just two goals in their last seven games, which included six wins and a goalless draw in Mexico to earn fourth place. That earned an unlikely playoff spot, and their recovery was complete when they then went on to beat New Zealand by the only goal of the game to reach the finals for the fifth time in the last six tournaments.
Recent form
Since that unlikely extended route to the finals, Costa Rica have had little time to make finishing touches to their preparations, but nonetheless they came within five minutes of securing an eye-catching win over South Korea. They finally settled for a 2-2 draw in that one, but then enjoyed some late drama of their own, netting twice in stoppage time to clinch an unlikely but morale-boosting victory over Uzbekistan.
Costa Rica squad
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (PSG), Esteban Alvarado (Herediano), Patrick Sequeira (CD Lugo)
Defenders: Francisco Calvo (Konyaspor), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios FC), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Oscar Duarte (Al-Wehda), Daniel Chacon (Colorado Rapids), Keysher Fuller (Herediano), Carlos Martinez (San Carlos), Bryan Oviedo (Real Salt Lake), Ronald Matarrita (Cincinnati)
Midfielders: 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), Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense)
Team insights
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1 Costa Rica will need to be at their defensive best in order to challenge for a place in the knock-out phase, which puts a lot of pressure on goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who is arguably one of their only truly world-class performers. In front of him, a back four will need constant protection by a defensive midfield pairing to stifle the threat of Spain, Germany and Japan in the final third, while elsewhere the youthful energy of Jewison Bennette and Anthony Contreras up front should benefit from the top-flight experience of Brandon Aguilera, Bryan Oviedo and Bryan Ruiz.
World Cup prospects
Costa Rica memorably topped a group including Italy, Uruguay and England in 2014 and only went out at the quarter-final stage after a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands, so they must not be underestimated. Whether that lightning bolt can strike again to see them finish above either Germany or Spain remains to be seen, but a win in their second game against Japan will at least give them something to play for in their final clash against the Germans. Best hope: 3rd place in Group E.
Read more about each of Costa Rica's Group E opponents: