England play their final friendly match before the World Cup when they take on Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida.
Thomas Tuchel’s side flexed their muscles in a professional, if not spectacular, victory over New Zealand at the weekend. Tuchel played different elevens in each half in that game, giving most of his squad the chance to get some vital minutes in their legs.
This game should see a more fixed starting line up, though, as the Three Lions look for cohesion ahead of their opening World Cup game against Croatia. Their friendly with Costa Rica kicks off at 9pm (UK time) on Wednesday 10th June.
Best Bets & Predictions
England are the superior side in their friendly match against Costa Rica and this match should give the Three Lions to the chance to really show what they are capable of. We think they should win in dominant fashion and the correct score market looks good value. We’re also keen on backing Marcus Rashford to excel after an impressive showing against New Zealand.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime Goalscorer – Marcus Rashford | 9/5 @ Spreadex (35.7%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Back Marcus Rashford to score anytime against Costa Rica. His impressive form for Barcelona this season, with 8 goals and 7 assists in La Liga, highlights his attacking prowess and he was excellent against New Zealand at the weekend. He’s a proven threat and is playing to ensure his place in the starting eleven against Croatia. |
| Correct Score – England To Win 3-0 | 11/2 @ BOYLE Sports (15.4%) | ⭐⭐ | Back England for a dominant 3-0 victory against Costa Rica on Wednesday. With Costa Rica failing to qualify for the World Cup, the Three Lions’ attacking quality should shine. Expect a strong performance and a clean sheet against a weaker opponent. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
How both sides head into England vs Costa Rica
England’s recent form has seen a slight dip after a flawless qualifying campaign. Following a 1-1 draw with Uruguay and a surprising 0-1 defeat to Japan in March friendlies, the Three Lions secured a narrow 1-0 victory over New Zealand at the weekend. Over their last five outings, England have netted 9 goals and conceded just twice, indicating a robust defence but perhaps a need for more clinical finishing against Costa Rica.
A 5-0 thrashing by Iran was followed up by a 3-1 defeat to Colombia in recent friendly matches for Costa Rica. They will need to tighten up and restore pride, with a match against England one where they are expected to struggle defensively. Costa Rica have averaged 0.6 goals a game over their last five and conceded 11 in that period.
Head-to-Head: Last 2 meetings
These two nations have only met twice before. Their first meeting saw Costa Rica secure a 0-0 draw in what proved to be a disastrous World Cup campaign for England in 2014. More recently, England won 2-0 in a friendly match.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 07/06/18 | England 2-0 Costa Rica | Friendly |
| 24/06/14 | Costa Rica 0-0 England | World Cup |
Can the Three Lions roar or will they whimper into the World Cup?
England will be searching for a momentum gaining big win against Costa Rica before the head into the World Cup. We’re happy to back Marcus Rashford to score anytime at 9/5 with Spreadex, with the forward looking really impressive against New Zealand. The Three Lions are heavy favourites and we’re backing them to make light work of their opponents with a 3-0 correct score available at 11/2 with BOYLE Sports.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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