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Costa Rica vs Panama: Head to head statistics
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Costa Rica vs Panama recommended bets
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Costa Rica vs Panama match preview
These two fierce Centroamericana rivals go head-to-head in this Gold Cup opener in Fort Lauderdale.
This’ll be a fifth meeting of these two neighbours in the last 21 months, all coming in crucial competitive fixtures.
First, Costa Rica pipped Panama to fourth place in the Octagonal round of World Cup qualifying, thereby taking the inter-confederation play-off spot, in which they beat New Zealand to get into the tournament itself.
But then, earlier this year, Panama got some semblance of revenge, claiming a surprise 1-0 victory in San José that saw them qualify for the Nations League Finals at Costa Rica’s expense.
This duo are the favourites to reach the knockout rounds from Group C, so will either kick off with a win in Florida?
Panama are looking to bounce back from a disappointing showing at last weeks Nations League Finals.
In terms of the Gold Cup, los Canaleros crashed out in the group stages two summers ago, ousted by Qatar and Honduras, thereby suffering their earliest exit since 1993.
The 2013 finalists are dreaming of an equally lengthy run this summer, as unlikely as that may be.
Outside the region’s big three (USA, Mexico & Canada), could Costa Rica be the most-likely team to go all the way in this competition?
Los Ticos have qualified for five of the last six World Cups and have reached, at least, the quarter-finals of all 12 Gold Cups this century.
In 2021, they won all three group games before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Canada in the last eight.
Since Luis Fernando Suárez was appointed Head Coach two years ago, los Ticos have won 14 of 26 competitive internationals, so it’ll take a strong opponent to stop them.
This group opener is tough to call, so will there be a winner at DRV PNK Stadium?
Costa Rica team news
The headline team news is about who’s not here, namely goalkeeper and captain Keylor Navas, who will not be adding to his 110 caps due to injury; key centre-back Óscar Duarte is also out.
In Navas’ absence, with Esteban Alvarado having retired, Kevin Chamorro will attempt to fill his rather large gloves, having only made his international debut earlier this year.
Some familiar faces who helped Costa Rica reach the World Cup quarter-finals nine years ago will feature, namely Francisco Calvo, Kendall Waston, Celso Borges and Joel Campbell.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Chamorro; MartÃnez, Waston, Calvo, Arboine, Zúñiga; Borges, Núñez, Alcócer, Campbell; Contreras.
Panama team news
Thomas Christiansen’s team should be quite easy to predict, given that they faced Canada in the Nations League semi-finals just ten days ago.
Eric Davis was sent off in that game but is available, having served his ban in the third-place play-off last Sunday.
Goals could be an issue; Cecilio Waterman is the top-scorer in the squad with just eight, the most-recent of which came against Costa Rica in a Nations League win 12 months ago.
Nashville’s AnÃbal Godoy will skipper the team, having taken over from long-serving captain Román Torres three years ago.
Predicted XI (5-3-2): Mosquera; Blackman, Cummings, Escobar, Andrade, Davis; Godoy, Carrasquilla, Bárcenas; Waterman, DÃaz.
CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C table
CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C results and fixtures
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