2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup – Costa Rica vs Nicaragua Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Costa Rica vs Nicaragua taking place? Monday 17th June, 2019 – 01:30 (UK)
Where is Costa Rica vs Nicaragua taking place? Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose
What television channel is Costa Rica vs Nicaragua on in the UK? This match will be televised live on FreeSports (Sky channel 422)
Where can I stream Costa Rica vs Nicaragua in the UK? Premier Sport subscribers can stream the match via Premier Player
Where can I get tickets for Costa Rica vs Nicaragua? https://www.goldcup.org/en/gold-cup-2019-tickets
THE TEAM NEWS
COSTA RICA
- Costa Rica are ranked higher than every other team in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup apart from Mexico and the United States and they will have every intention of winning this competition.
- The Costa Ricans will have to turn around their poor form they have suffered in the build-up to this tournament with them only managing to win one of their four games in this calendar year which was a 1-0 victory over Jamaica.
- Keylor Navas will not feature for his country in this competition with Leonel Moreira likely to be between the sticks whilst Joel Campbell is their key man in attack and could provide the goals they need to take them deep into the tournament.
NICARAGUA
- Nicaragua will feature in their second consecutive Gold Cup but they will be hoping for better fortunes than in 2017 when they lost all three of their group games which saw them crash out early on.
- They have little pressure on them again this time around but will look to gain confidence from their opening game against Costa Rica to take into their more winnable fixtures against Bermuda and Haiti.
- A 5-1 defeat against Argentina was not ideal preparation but they will look to put that behind them quickly and will need their all-time scorer in Juan Barrera to be in top form if they are to do so.
THE PREDICTION
Costa Rica will feel they are good enough to go all the way in the Gold Cup but will need to find some form which is something they have struggled for since last year’s World Cup. They are likely to come up against inferior opponents which will help them but they must get off to a good start. Nicaragua are their opponents in their first game in Group B and will provide tricky opposition but whilst they will make it difficult, the Costa Ricans should have too much.
