Holland v Costa Rica World Cup 2014, 5th July Betting Preview
Can Costa Rica pull off another underdog show at the World Cup? Los Ticos sprung one of the big surprises in topping Group D and secured their first ever quarter final berth with a penalty shoot out win against Greece. They go as heavy underdogs as they take on the free scoring Dutch side.
Holland v Costa Rica Betting Tips
Holland will have been happy enough to see Costa Rica awaiting them in the quarter finals. They could have certainly faced a much tougher test. Holland are in great World Cup form having won 10 of their last 11 now, their only loss being against Spain in the World Cup 2010 final. The two nations have never faced either there before and for this first clash, Holland are running as strong favourites. They have been scoring well and have shown a lot of fight, and the last four matches at the World Cup in which they have fallen behind, they have come back to record a win. They have managed to do it twice at Brazil 2014 in comeback victories over Spain and Mexico.
The Dutch have faced CONCACAF opposition twice (both times Mexico) before at the World Cup and have come away with one win and a draw. They are currently trending well in form having won their last six matches played, and they have had seven different scorers pop up for them in the tournament so far. Wesley Sneijder may be a good option in the anytime goalscorer market (2/1) as he has scored five goals in his last five knockout matches, while the top options in the market are Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie at even money. It is probably going to be worth tipping over 2.5 goals and for both teams to score as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 World Cup knockout matches.
Los Ticos have already been breaking new ground for themselves as they have made it to the quarter finals for the first time. For the first time ever in the competition they have managed to go four unbeaten matches (W2 D2), and they have also become the first CONCACAF side to have made it the last eight since the USA back in 2002. They are heavy underdogs in this one though and they have only managed to put up one victory in their seven matches against European opposition (W1 D3 L3). This win came against Italy in the group stage.
The Central Americans have found the back of the net in all but one of nine matches against European nations (the exception being the 0-0 draw against England in the group stage). Defensively they have exceeded expectations in making it this far and keeper Keylor Navas has saved 87.5% of all shots against him at Brazil 2014. However, going forward they are a bit light, and they only had one shot on target in their round of sixteen against Greece. It was the shot from which Bryan Ruiz (4/1 in the anytime goalscorer market) scored.
Holland v Costa Rica Betting Odds
Holland 1/2, Draw 3/1, Costa Rica 7/1
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Holland v Costa Rica Predictions
Well this does look to be a bit lopsided. The Dutch should run out winners here as the best chance that Costa Rica will have is in keeping things blank for as long as possible. The Dutch are likely to have far too much pace and power for Los Ticos to handle and would expect a Dutch win and the game to go over 2.5 goals.
