In the second contest of Group E in the FIFA World Cup 2022, the Spain vs Costa Rica match will be played at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, this Wednesday (23rd November) evening.
While it is the opening game for both teams in this tournament, they are looking for their best possible starts in this campaign.
SPN vs CRC Match Details
Match: Spain vs Costa Rica
Stage: Group (E)
Date: 23rd November 2022 (Wednesday)
Time: 19:00 local time/AST (UTC+3); 21:30 IST
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
SPN vs CRC Match Preview
The WC 2010 champions Spain are one of the youngest teams in the FIFA World Cup 2022, as the team’s average age is almost 25.6 years. They can be one of the special teams in this competition, who suffered only four defeats out of 44 games since 2019 (excluding defeats in penalty shootouts). During this period, they finished as the runners-up in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League, semi-finalists in the UEFA Euro 2020 and have qualified for the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League Finals.
Although Alvaro Morata is the key goal scorer for this team, who scored nine goals for the national team since 2021, the team has huge depth in the side to work on differently. The Spanish team has also built up enough confidence without the goalkeeper David de Gea, who didn’t get a chance for the national team since the start of 2021.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica are ready to stun the football world once again, just like they did in the World Cup 2014 in Brazil by playing the quarter-finals despite starting from the group of death with the past World Cup winners England, Italy and Uruguay.
Though Costa Rica were quarter-finalists in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2019 and 2021 and also had some ups and downs, Los Ticos are currently in good form in 2022. In this calendar year, they lost only once out of 12 games (9 wins and 2 draws), including presently carrying a five-match unbeaten streak. Moreover, they conceded only six goals this year (in four games).
So, it will be interesting to see how Los Ticos handle another tough WC group, where they will face Spain, Germany and Japan.
It will be the fourth official meeting but the first World Cup meeting between Spain and Costa Rica. Apart from one 2-2 draw in their first meeting back in 2011, Spain won the last two games against this CONCACAF side (by 2-1 in 2015 and by 5-0 in 2017).
Recent Form (starting from the latest)
Spain (SPN): WWLWW
Costa Rica (CRC): WWDWW
SPN vs CRC Team News
(Spain)
The left-back José Gayà is already out from this tournament due to a right ankle injury that he suffered in the pre-tournament training camp. The 19-year-old Alejandro Balde has replaced him. They will also miss the Real Sociedad winger Mikel Oyarzabal as he is recovering from a ruptured knee cruciate ligament.
Though the experienced central midfielder Koke suffered a thigh injury last month, he is recovering well and resumed full training. He even started the last warm-up game against Jordan and played for almost an hour (58’).
(Costa Rica)
No tense injury news on this side. However, the experienced goalkeeper Keylor Navas hasn’t played a competitive match since last June.
SPN vs CRC predicted starting lineups
Spain (SPN): Unai Simón; Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres, Jordi Alba; Pedri, Sergio Busquets (Captain), Gavi; Ferran Torres, Álvaro Morata, Nico Williams.
Costa Rica (CRC): Keylor Navas; Carlos Martínez, Francisco Calvo , Óscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo; Yeltsin Tejeda, Jewison Bennette, Gerson Torres; Celso Borges, Anthony Contreras, Joel Campbell.
SPN vs CRC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: U Simon
DEF: B Oviedo, F Calvo, J Alba, D Carvajal
MID: C Borges, B Ruiz, P Gonzalez
FW: J Campbell, A Morata, F Torres
Vice-captain: J Alba
Captain: A Morata
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football and 2022 FIFA World Cup for upcoming matches and updates.
