Costa Rica

Underdog in a tough group, but a team with clear identity and a clever manager – Costa Rica has a foundation to cause an upset, but they lack quality and depth to repeat that in three games.

On-loan attack

Paulo Wanchope, who played solid eight years in the Premier League offering his abilities to the clubs like Derby County, Manchester City and West Ham United is a part of staff that lead Costa Rica to this year’s World Cup. He is currently an assistant coach to Jorge Luis Pinto. They both struggled to find the right style and tactics to suit all their players.

Costa Rica has plenty of talented footballers. Its biggest star is arguably Bryan Ruiz of Fulham, currently on loan with PSV. He made his name in Holland as a trequartista cum shadow striker, offering his team trickery and creativity that enabled his teammates convert easy chances created by him.

Fulham hoped for him to recreate his form but he struggled in the Premier League and was not deemed necessary to the club’s hopes of staying in the top flight. During his stay in England he scored some fabulous goals but also played way below his level and was often absent-minded.

It’s the same case in the national team but because Costa Rica does not have a player with a similar potential he is always a started. He should be providing assists to team’s lone striker Joel Campbell, also connected with London and also loaned to a weaker team. Contracted to Arsenal, he spent last season on loan to Olympiakos Piraeus and was vital part of a team that finished first in Greek Super League and managed to beat Manchester United at home in the Champions League Round of 16.

Best goalkeeper in Spain?

Pinto might also use Alvaro Saborio, who is one of the most prolific strikers in MLS, who scored six goals in 10 appearances this season for Real Salt Lake.

Celso Borges, young and creative midfielder currently playing in Sweden is also one of the key players in Costa Rica’s set up. Same goes for defender Roy Miller, who decided to pursue a career in MLS and is a vital part of New York Red Bulls. Costa Rica also has a solid defender in Junior Diaz, who plays in one of the Bundesliga’s surprise team of the season Mainz.

The best player though is currently Keylor Navas of Levante. One of the best goalkeepers in La Liga, Navas kept his team alive in many games and because of him, Levante might end this season above their arch rival Valencia, which really does not happen very often.

Playing style

They will play in a defensive 5-4-1 formation but the wing backs will have a lot of freedom going forward. Pinto drills his team to be sound defensively but eventually they may lack the quality needed to play like this for 90 minutes.

Coach

It’s his second spell as manager of Costa Rica. He was sacked nine years ago despite qualifying with his team for the 2006 World Cup. He prefers defensive football

Schedule and BETEGY suggestions

14th June, Fortaleza: vs. Uruguay (1-2)

20th June, Recife: vs. Italy (0-2)

24th June, Belo Horizonte: vs. England (0-2)

They have just 3% chance of qualifying to knockout stages and don’t seem very likely to win against any of the teams in their group. They might score one or two goals but that will be the maximum.