There is a lot of pressure on Brazil to not just win, but win big, in their match against Costa Rica on Friday. Brazil was an overwhelming favorite to win Group E before the World Cup kicked off. They were expected to dominate this group and were the favorite to win the whole enchilada as well. However, they are in a precarious position after a draw against Switzerland in the opener and need a win. That has made Brazil a slightly bigger favorite than they normally would be given the circumstances.
The most anticipated sporting event in the world comes around once every four years, so don’t miss any of the 2018 World Cup. This match will take place at St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg at 8 a.m. ET on Friday, June 22, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
World Cup Group Stage Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Brazil -526
Costa Rica +1627
Draw +598
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Last Match
Brazil had a number of good chances in their 1-1 draw against Switzerland in the opener. The Selecao fired 21 shots against the Swiss, but they were unable to convert like they were hoping. Neymar was largely ineffective and was visibly frustrated after being dispossessed of the ball on runs more than once. On defense, there were holes and the midfield allowed Switzerland to control the ball much longer than anyone expected. That’s a bit of a concern.
The Ticos were hoping to recapture their magic from four years ago, but that is looking increasingly unlikely after a 1-0 loss to Serbia in their opener. Costa Rica was largely unable to get anything done on offense and Keylor Navas had to come up big a few times to allow only one goal. He was blameless in the lone goal allowed, a beautiful free kick from Aleksander Kolarov.
Matchup to Watch
Navas is going to need to be at the top of his game against Brazil in this one. He is the leader of Costa Rica and his performance at the last World Cup made him one of the most highly sought commodities during the summer transfer window following the tournament. Navas ended up at Real Madrid and came up with some big stops during their Champions League run to lock up a third straight title for the club. He has been in excellent form, yet he won’t stand much of a chance if Brazil are at their best.
Few attacks are scarier than Brazil’s when everyone is firing on cylinders. Even with Neymar having an off day, Brazil was able to threaten often in their opener thanks to Philippe Coutinho. Coutinho had a wonderful goal in their first match and nearly scored another one later in the game.
If others rise to the occasion, Brazil should have no problem getting the win. The team’s other midfielders and forwards struggled to make much of an impact in the opener, and a better performance will make this attack hum.
Key Unit
Brazil’s back line was not at their best in the opener. Marcelo played well in his traditional role, but every other player struggled. Switzerland’s goal came off of a corner kick where Steven Zuber was left wide open in the six-yard box, as Alisson was left out to dry. In particular, Miranda will need to play better in this one. Costa Rica won’t have many opportunities, and the defense can’t allow players to go unmarked this time.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
It’s hard to see a way that Costa Rica gets a result out of this match. Brazil are clearly a cut above and even a fantastic performance from Navas will likely lead to at least one goal for Brazil. Anything other than a Brazil win would be a shock.
World Cup Group Stage Odds: Brazil 3, Costa Rica 0
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