Costa Rica Vs Canada
Costa Rica Vs Canada Friday 25 March, 2022 – 02:05 (GMT)
World Cup Qualifier
Pick: Costa Rica or Draw
Odds: 8/15
Bookmaker: BetVictor
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 23 March 2022)
Preview: Canada stand on the verge of sealing their first World Cup participation since 1986. A first-ever win away to Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying will seal the deal on Friday, however, their resurgent hosts desperately require maximum points to keep alive their own aspirations of featuring at Qatar 2022.
World Cup Qualifying Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Costa Rica – Los Ticos showcasing bounce-back ability?
It is now or never for Los Ticos, who have featured in four of the seven previous World Cup finals but never three in a row – something they were hoping to achieve by qualifying for Qatar 2022. After a slow start, though, head coach Luis Fernando Suarez deserves credit for hauling them back into contention. A return of ten points from the last four matches (W3 D1) seeing them move to within a point of the play-off spot.
Victory away to Jamaica last time saw them claim a third clean sheet on the bounce. Only the United States, in their 2-1 win in Columbus last October, have breached Los Ticos’ backline more than once. Meanwhile no visiting team has so far managed such a feat – though all of Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador and Honduras did find the net in San Jose, prior to a 1-0 victory over Panama in their latest outing on home soil.
Key Stat: CONCACAF’s joint second-best defence (7 conceded in 11 matches) has unsurprisingly contributed to 72% (8/11) of Costa Rica’s World Cup qualifiers seeing Under 2.5 Goals.
Canada – History beckons for imperious Canucks?
The last time the World Cup featured Canada in its main tournament was Mexico 1986, which shows how far this current roster has come under John Herdman. The 46-year-old took the role as first-team coach despite holding no previous managerial posts in the men’s game (his previous roles included coaching the Canadian and New Zealand women’s sides). Yet his team have been a class above throughout qualifying.
A win in either of their remaining three games – two are against teams they’ve already beaten on their way to amassing 25 points, which is at least four more than any other side – will see them qualify for Qatar 2022. Even a point from an ordinarily tricky venture to Costa Rica would mark a significant step towards said objective, and they can be confident of that boasting the sole unbeaten record in CONCACAF (W7 D4).
Key Stat: After drawing each of their first three away qualifiers with Jamaica (0-0), Mexico and USA (both 1-1), Canada are bidding for a third consecutive win on the road following 2-0 victories in El Salvador and Honduras.
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Costa Rica Vs Canada Betting Advice
A first World Cup appearance for 36 years is tantalisingly within reach for the Canadian men’s team. John Herdman’s players have put together an exceptional campaign so far, registering seven victories out of eleven as they strive to maintain the sole unbeaten record left in CONCACAF. That will be easier said than done, however, as opponents Costa Rica are mounting a spirited late rally in pursuit of their ticket to Qatar 2022.
Costa Rica Vs Canada – Key Facts:
- Canada have never won an away World Cup qualifier versus Costa Rica, losing two of three such visits, but come into their 12th qualifying game of this campaign top of the table (W7 D4) and aware a victory will seal their place at the finals in Qatar.
- Costa Rica are in catch up mode following a slow start. They’ve taken to the task well, though, winning three of their last four qualifiers (D1) which includes the last three as hosts.
- Those three aforementioned home victories for Costa Rica all came via one-goal winning margins (vs El Salvador, Honduras and Panama.
Hosts Costa Rica are unbeaten in four qualifiers, conceding once in registering maximum points versus all of Jamaica, Honduras and Panama either side of a very creditable goalless draw in Mexico. So this is by no means straightforward for Canada. However, the Canucks happen to be the only team with a better defensive record than Los Ticos, but are winless in three prior World Cup qualifying away head-to-heads (D1 L2).
Best Betting Odds – Costa Rica Vs Canada
Costa Rica – 12/5 (Boylesports)
Draw – 21/10 (Bet365)
Canada – 13/10 (PaddyPower)
