Copa America 2024: Brazil x Costa Rica, Match Preview, Odds, Team News and Predictions(25/06/2024)

Group D play between Brazil and Costa Rica on Monday at SoFi Stadium will wrap off matchday one of the 2024 Copa America.

While Los Ticos beat Grenada 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month, Selecao and the USA fought to a 1-1 tie in their last warm-up game before this event.

Brazil x Costa Rica Team News

Brazil's notable absentees include Richarlison, who is battling a calf injury, record goalscorer Neymar, who is still recovering from an ACL injury, and Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, who suffered an eye socket fracture in a May match against Tottenham Hotspur.

With Ederson's injury, Bento and Rafael will be Alisson's backup keepers; Marquinhos, with 85 caps, is their most seasoned player; Lucas Paqueta of West Ham United is four appearances short of 50 with the national side.

Rodrygo scored their lone goal against the US, but his Real Madrid colleagues Endrick and Vinicius Junior—probably on the Ballon d'Or shortlist this year—should be the mainstays of the assault.

Douglas Sequeira is the only Costa Rican player chosen for this tournament without an international cap; Andy Rojas and Yeison Molina both have one.

With almost 100 caps between them, offensive midfielder Joel Campbell and defender Francisco Calvo are their most seasoned players.

Orlando Galo scored three goals in their two World Cup qualifiers; in their win against Grenada, Alvaro Zamora and Gerald Taylor also scored the first for each in a Costa Rican uniform.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

Brazil expects to win each big tournament they take part in, and this one is no exception.

They had reached the final in their last two tournament visits, while the Brazilians had not advanced beyond the group stage since 1987, the last time this competition was held in the United States.

After Carlo Ancelotti decided to remain with Real Madrid, Dorival Junior was hired to coach this side in January. In his four matches as head coach of the national team, the man who led Flamengo to the Copa Libertadores title in 2022 is undefeated.

Since Mexico beat them 2-0 in a June 2012 friendly game played in the United States, Selecao has not lost a game against a CONCACAF opponent in over a decade.

Junior's early performances have improved over Fernando Diniz's disastrous tenure. However, this Brazilian team is a long cry from Tite's from 2016–2022, having let up six goals in their previous three games.

They have won seven straight Copa America group matches after losing to Peru 1-0 in their last game in 2016.

Los Ticos is having a great start to their quest for a fourth consecutive World Cup berth; they have won their first two games by a total score of 7-0.

Gustavo Alfaro has yet to participate in a tournament since 2016. Hence, they will face fierce opposition in the group round.

Over their last six international games, Costa Rica has won four and lost only one (3-1 vs Argentina).

They have won 15 of their past 16 games when they have scored the first goal, and they have not surrendered in either of their last three competitive games.

The Costa Ricans have only failed to go beyond the group stage of this competition once, at the 2004 Copa America in Peru, but they had only lost one of their five previous appearances (1997).

Costa Rica has not scored in the last three encounters with Brazil, losing nine consecutive games overall. Their lone victory came in the 1960 Panamerican Championship (3-0).

Our Predictions

Brazil to win and over 2.5 goals @1.51 on Sky247.ng

The Costa Ricans have not encountered any difficulties in the World Cup qualifying process thus far. However, Brazil has a wealth of experienced players and talented youth players at their disposal, and we are confident that they will dominate Los Ticos, which is currently undergoing a transitional period.

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