Spain vs Costa Rica Prediction & H2H

Free Betting Tip by Gàthêbã

Spain meet Costa Rica for the first round of World Cup Group E fixtures, in what will mark a maiden competitive meeting between the sides. Spain manager Luis Enrique, who played in three editions of this competition for La Roja, has been criticized for his exclusion of senior players ahead of the tournament, but stated "How can I doubt myself? I am the best coach on earth" with 20 of Spain’s 26-player squad now making their first appearance at a World Cup.

Enrique has been rewarded for his faith in youth and they’ll be shepherded by Sergio Busquets, who is the only remaining player from their famous triumph in 2010. Spain reached the semi finals of Euro 2020 last year before then topping their World Cup qualification group, and with just one loss across their last 11 outings, including a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Thursday’s preparation friendly, belief is growing for a side ranked as fourth favorites by Opta.

Luis Fernando Suarez's Costa Rica side are no pushovers but the strength of a group that also contains Germany and Japan, means Los Ticos were given just a 9.8% chance of progression - the lowest of any side pre-tournament according to Opta. Yet despite that this is their record third-consecutive competition appearance, and Suarez will be looking to replicate Costa Rica’s impressive run to the quarter finals in 2014, when they topped a group containing former world champions England, Italy and Uruguay.

They’ll aim to shock again but having only shaded qualification after a tense 1-0 victory over New Zealand in the intercontinental playoffs, ‘Los Ticos’ arrive looking to snap a six-match World Cup winless streak (D3, L3: excluding penalties). Suarez's squad contains a host of players who featured back in 2014 however, and they’ve shown experience by tasting defeat in just one of their last ten competitive matches, so don’t be surprised if they push Spain all the way here.