Brazil vs Costa Rica prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: Copa América betting tips on match 2024-06-24 01:00.
[p]After falling short on home soil in the last Copa América back in 2021, Brazil will have their eyes fixed on winning the tournament for a tenth time – a figure that has only been eclipsed by Uruguay and the team that beat the Seleção in the final three years ago, Argentina. The prospect of adding a tenth crown seemed extremely remote towards the end of 2023, when they suffered three straight defeats during their ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign – their worst run since 2001 (four consecutive losses). [/p]
[p]The arrival of new permanent head coach Dorival Júnior in January has given Brazil a new lease of life, and they’re now four games unbeaten since then (W2, D2). Hopes should be high that they can get off to a strong start at this Copa América by stretching that unbeaten run, having avoided defeat in their last five such tournament openers (W3, D2), keeping four clean sheets in those encounters. [/p]
[p]Costa Rica will certainly not be banking on claiming a famous victory here, having lost ten of their previous 11 meetings with Brazil (W1) – failing to score in six of them. They’ve at least fared a little better in 2024, winning four of their six games to date (D1, L1), although with most coming against inferior opposition to Brazil, this will be a different kind of challenge. [/p]
[p]Despite being placed in Group D with Brazil and Colombia, coach Gustavo Alfaro can perhaps rely on youthful exuberance as he’s selected the youngest squad at the tournament, with an average age of less than 25. Of that crop, Patrick Sequeira arguably has the most pressure to bear, as he is expected to succeed Keylor Navas for the long term, having played all three internationals between the sticks since Navas’ retirement last month. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: After seven Real Madrid games without a goal, Rodrygo found the net in his first appearance back in Brazil colours – his third successive strike for club and country inside 20 minutes. At the other end of the pitch is likely to be Manfred Ugalde, who registered four goal involvements in two caps won earlier this month (G1, A3). [/p]
[p]Hot stat: None of Brazil’s last six matches have seen the victor win by more than one goal (W2, D2, L2).[/p]