Kick-off: 1600, 23/11/2022
Stadium: Al Thumama Stadium
Channel: ITV
Costa Rica and Spain are two defensively solid sides and this clash may well prove that, especially if both teams take a more tentative approach to ring up the curtain on their respective World Cup campaigns.
However, with Japan and heavyweights Germany being in the same group, La Roja will want to make sure of picking up all three points.
So, a narrow Spanish victory and under 2.5 goals at 19/10 is our first Spain vs Costa Rica prediction.
Spain Odds
Spain took the World Cup trophy home in 2010, which was the first time they had reached the final in their history.
However, La Roja have failed to make an impression on the tournament since, exiting at the group stage in 2014 and losing to Russia on penalties in the last 16 four years ago.
They breezed through qualification this time, though, winning six of their eight matches – losing only once at the hands of Sweden but still managing to finish four points ahead of the Scandinavians.
This year’s Nations League campaign also ended up a successful one, with a closing win in Portugal good enough to see them through to the final four.
The Spaniards still seem to be going through a transitional period but have seen some promising talents pull on the national strip, such as Barcelona youngsters Gavi, Ansu Fati and Pedri, the first two of which scored in a 3-1 warm-up win over Jordan.
Rodri, Sergio Busquets and Alvaro Morata are among the key senior figures for Spain, providing experience for a rather youthful side coming through.
In charge is Luis Enrique, who has been at the helm since 2019, when he returned five months after leaving.
He is yet to guide Spain to any silverware but has a rich history in club football, having won the Champions League, two La Liga titles and three Spanish Cups while Barcelona boss.
His teams like to dominate possession and 13/25 for La Roja to win to nil will attract some big hitters to the Spain vs Costa Rica odds.
Costa Rica Odds
Costa Rica qualified for Qatar 2022 thanks to a 1-0 play-off win over New Zealand, which took them to their third consecutive World Cup and sixth overall.
They were in an ominous position heading into the final few rounds of CONCACAF fixtures but reeled off four straight wins to finish fourth in the table.
Their best performance came back in 2014 when they were knocked out in the quarter-finals after topping a group ahead of Uruguay, when Italy and England were dumped out.
Los Ticos will travel to Qatar with confidence having won six of their last seven competitive matches, including the qualifiers and Nations League games.
Veteran PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas heads a select band of familiar faces, alongside former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell, ex-Fulham man Bryan Ruiz and one-time Everton full-back Bryan Oviedo.
Luis Fernando Suarez’s side have earned a reputation for being water tight at the back, having conceded just two goals from their last nine World Cup qualifying fixtures.
They will be relying on their defensive exploits if they are to upset the odds and qualify from this tough section.
However, in what should be a tight and cagey contest, 5/1 for La Roja to do just enough and win 1-0 completes our Spain vs Costa Rica betting tips.
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