Colombia can book their place in the quarter-finals of Copa America 2024 with a win over Costa Rica on Friday.
Costa Rica secured a hard-fought draw against Brazil in their first outing and will be eager to build on it with a win over Colombia, who are currently top of Group D and are just a win away from the knockout rounds.
Los Cafeteros squared up against Paraguay on Matchday 1. They dominated the ball for the majority of the game and came out on top with the scoreline of 2-1. While Colombia were frustrated in the initial phase of the game, in the end, they did manage to get the result they wanted.
Nestor Lorenzo’s men have won each of their last nine games, and they are just a win away from qualifying for the knockout stage. Last time when the two teams met in the 2016 Copa America, Costa Rica managed to win that game 3-2. Having defeated them back in the day, Los Ticos will be confident of getting the desired result.
They are heading into this fixture on the back of a hard-fought draw against Brazil (0-0). While they hardly had an attempt towards the goal, Costa Rica kept an exceptional defensive shape, and they managed to keep out a star-studded Brazil attack.
A win over Colombia could strengthen Costa Rica’s chance of making it to the next round, as a result, they are expected to go all out here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Colombia
Colombia will be without the services of Jhon Lucumi, who had to be taken off after just 25 minutes in their first match. Nestor Lorenzo is expected to go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation, where Camilo Vargas will be in goal ahead of David Ospina.
Daniel Munoz and Johan Mojica will feature as the full-backs, while Davinson Sanchez will pair up with Yerry Mina in the heart of the defence. The backline will look for a clean sheet, and they will receive some support from Jefferson Lerma, who is expected to feature as a defensive midfielder.
Richard Ríos and Jhon Arias will be the two other midfielders who will look to support Lerma and ensure they control the temp of the game. While James Rodriguez will start on the right flank, he will have the freedom to roam around. Luis Diaz will start on the left flank, while Jhon Duran will leading the line for Colombia against Costa Rica.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Mina, Mojica; Rios, Lerma, Arias; Rodriguez, Duran, Diaz
Costa Rica
Costa Rica do not have any fresh injury concerns, and they are expected to name pretty much the same XI that managed to secure a draw against Brazil in their first outing.
They will stick to the 5-3-2 formation, where Patrick Sequeira will take charge in goal. Haxzel Quiros and Ariel Lassiter will be the wing-backs. In the heart of the defence, Francisco Calvo will feature alongside Jeyland Mitchell and Juan Pablo Vargas. The back five will look for another clean sheet.
In the centre of the park, Orlando Galo and Brandon Aguilera will start alongside Alejandro Bran. The trio will provide a defensive cover as well as look to ensure Colombia do not end up dominating the ball too deep in their half.
Alvaro Zamora will start alongside Manfred Ugalde up top in attack. The duo will be eager to score their team’s first goal in this year’s Copa America.
Probable Lineup (5-3-2): Sequeira; Quiros, Mitchell, Vargas, Calvo, Lassiter; Galo, Bran, Aguilera; Zamora, Ugalde
Key Stats
- Costa Rica have suffered defeat in nine out of their 11 meetings against Colombia.
- Colombia have won each of their last nine games. Seven of those wins have been by a margin of a single goal.
- Los Ticos have not conceded a goal in any of their last three games. But, they have never kept consecutive clean sheets at the Copa America.
- Colombia have the opportunity to win consecutive group matches for the first time since 2019 when they last topped their group.
- Costa Rica are only the third CONCACAF nation to keep a clean sheet against Brazil in Copa America. Honduras did it back in 2001 and Mexico in 2001 and 2007.
Player to Watch
Luis Diaz
Diaz might not have contributed towards a goal in their first outing in the Copa America. But he has arrived at the Copa America on the back of his consistent performances for Liverpool in the 2023/24 season, where he contributed towards 18 goals. He will be eager to add to his tally when he takes the field against Costa Rica.
Prediction
Colombia 2-0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica did manage to keep a clean sheet against one of the best attacks in competition, but they are unlikely to repeat those heroics against Colombia. Brazil were not at their best and that is why failed to find the back of the net, Colombia are expected to do much better and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for them.