Costa Rica VS USA Match Prediction

The USA and Costa Rica rivalry has only intensified in recent years due to the improvement the Ticos have made.  Over the course of 32 matches, there have been just five draws.  The other results are very split, with the Americans leading very narrowly- 14 to 13.  Here's how the last five results have gone:

Nov 16, 2016: CR 4-0 USA (World Cup Qualifying)
Jun 8, 2016: USA 4-0 CR (Copa America)
Oct 14, 2015: USA 0-1 CR (Friendly)
Sep 7, 2013: CR 3-1 USA (World Cup Qualifying)
Jul 17, 2013: USA 1-0 CR (Gold Cup)

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Costa Rica vs USA Betting Tips and Odds

Bovada have the following odds available for this match:

Costa Rica are at +305 to win, a draw is at +220, and a USA win is at -105.

The value here for a Costa Rica win is quite extraordinarily large.  Yes, the match is in the USA but there are bound to be a good number of Ticos fans in the stadium in Arlington.  This stadium is massive, though, so the US will have a likely advantage in fans.  

But given the way the Americans are playing, it's hard to see how they overcome such a good side with great chemistry together.  Costa Rica don't give up many goals, and they will put chances away unlike what El Salvador could manage to do.  That puts the USA's margin of error much lower in this match.

Costa Rica to score the first goal is set at +160.  Since we see them winning and keeping a clean sheet, we see this as a decent shout here.  

Costa Rica vs USA Prediction

After the poor performance that the Americans had in the quarterfinals, it's hard to see how they will get past Costa Rica.  It will be a tight match, but the Ticos will show why they are the favorites to win the tournament by eliminating the Americans.

Correct Score Prediction: Costa Rica 2-0 United States

Team News

Oscar Ramirez made some changes to his original 23 man squad after the group stages, and now he has been forced to send Rodney Wallace back to New York City after he picked up an injury.  He cannot be replaced, so that is a bit of a blow to them to be without him and an extra player.  Don't look for too many changes tactically in this match from the Ticos.

Key Man

Attacking midfielder Bryan Ruiz continues to be the man to watch in this semi-final.  The Sporting Lisbon man is the captain of the side, and he has over 100 caps now.  He's got 23 goals in international football, including one against the Americans in a qualifier back in 2009.  The 31 year old usually has a little bit more help around him, so he will be asked to do a little more in this one to help his side progress.   

Team Form

Costa Rica have four wins and a draw in their last five matches.  They won 2-1 at home against Trinidad & Tobago in World Cup qualifying before kick starting the tournament with a 0-1 win over Honduras in the first match.  Next was a 1-1 draw against Canada.  Then came a 3-0 with over French Guiana to clinch the group.  That set them up against Panama, and they won 1-0 via an own goal in the quarterfinals to advance to this semi-final.

Costa Rica Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 5-4-1
 

Team News

Bruce Arena will be very upset with the way his team played on Wednesday night against El Salvador.  They did not win emphatically as the manager had asked them to do, but he's in a bit of a trap here.  Does he stick with the same side for this match and hope the chemistry and form come together or does he change it?  We know he has to play the guys he called in for these stages, but could he or will he change the others?

Key Man

Goalkeeper Tim Howard changed the outcome of the match with El Salvador on Wednesday in the early moments of the match after a poor back pass from Eric Lichaj.  The #1 (#24 for this match) came out in a hurry and snuffed the chance.  He will be needed in similar situations here in this semi-final if they continue to play as they did in the previous match.  Howard's form can be a little iffy, and that is not something that they can afford to see in this match.  

Team Form

The USA have four wins and a draw coming into this match as well.  They won 2-1 against Ghana in a friendly ahead of the tournament before starting it with a 1-1 draw against Panama.  Next were wins over Martinique (3-2) and Nicaragua (0-3) that clinched them the group win.  They faced El Salvador on Wednesday and won 2-0 in unimpressive fashion.  

USA Predicted Starting Line-up

Expected Line-up: 4-4-2

These two sides have really heated up their rivalry of late. It all seemed to stem from the beating the Americans got in Saprissa some years back, then went on to the Ticos being knocked out of third place in qualifying. It continued in the snow derby, and in the last year each team has a 4-0 win over the other. We expect this match to be tighter, and due to the Ticos\' well put together squad, we like their chances to progress to the final.

The United States have yet to lose under returning manager Bruce Arena, but they are not playing well under his charge lately.