2010 World Cup winners Spain begin their journey in Qatar this Wednesday when they play Costa Rica at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium (Doha)
Key Statistics
Spain have lost just one of their eleven games.
They have kept nine clean sheets in their last 20 matches.
Sergio Busquets is the only remaining player from Spain’s famous triumph in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Costa Rica has conceded one goal or none in ten of their last 11 competitive outings.
They have lost just one of their last ten competitive games.
Costa Rica are winless in their last six World Cup games (D3, L3: excluding penalties).
Head to head
This will mark a maiden competitive meeting between the two sides.
Latest performances in all competitions
Spain: W-W-L-W-W
Costa Rica: W-W-D-W-W
Spain
Spain will look to begin their 2022 World Cup on a positive note when they face a Costa Rica side who are ranked 24 places below them in the FIFA rankings.
Luis Enrique’s side come into this tournament as one of the favourites considering their form and quality heading into this tournament. They are ranked as fourth favourites by Opta despite mainly naming young players.
Manager Enrique, who played in three editions of this competition for La Roja, has been criticised 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 will hope to be rewarded for his faith in youth here. His side will be led by Sergio Busquets, who is the only remaining player from their famous triumph in 2010.
The Barca man is an experienced player and will be hoping to lead his young teammates to better pastures than their previous two outings. La Roja reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 last year before then topping their World Cup qualification group. They have just one loss across their last 11 outings, including a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Thursday’s preparation friendly, and so will enter this tie confident of a win.
Possible Spain starting line-up
Unai Simón, Daniel Carvajal, Eric García, Pau Francisco Torres, Jordi Alba, Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pablo Sarabia, Álvaro Morata, Ferrán Torres.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Costa Rica
Costa Rica booked their place in the World Cup finals thanks to a 1-0 win over New Zealand in the intercontinental playoffs.
Luis Fernando Suárez’s side come into this tie in good shape, having lost just one of their last eleven games.
However, despite their strong shape, the strength of a group also containing 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 this poor placement and a run of six games without a win in the World Cup (D3, L3), they have a decent history in this competition. This is their third-consecutive competition appearance and Suárez 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.
Possible Costa Rica starting line-up
Keylor Navas, Keysher Fuller, Francisco Calvo, Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Yeltsin Ignacio Tejeda, Celso Borges, Anthony Contreras, Bryan Ruiz, Jewison Bennette, Joel Campbell.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Odds
| Germany to win | Draw | Japan to win | |
| Odds | 1.14 | 7.50 | 23.00 |
| Probability (%) | 83 | 13 | 4 |
Prediction
Spain 2-1 Costa Rica
Live Stream
For details, FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 – TV Broadcast / Live Stream
