Our football match prediction:
Costa Rica
Match Time & Date:
17/06/2018
13:00 GMT
Prediction: 0-0
Serbia
After missing out on a place at the 2010 World Cup finals, Serbia did well to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia. The Serbs were producing fine displays under Slavoljub Muslin in the qualifiers, but the experienced tactician unexpectedly got fired. New coach Mladen Krstajic has switched Serbia’s formation to 4-2-3-1 where Aleksandar Mitrovic plays as a lone striker. Anyhow, a man to watch in Mladen Krstajic’s team will be Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic. Costa Rica, on the other hand, impressed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with the team reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament. The team’s most important player is goalkeeper Keylor Navas and we predict that los Ticos are going to adopt a defence-minded approach in Sunday’s football match. A close encounter is on the cards and there is every chance the two teams will share the spoils at Samara Arena.
Highlighted Player (Joel Campbell):
Joel Campbell is a highly rated 23-year-old versatile forward who plays for the English Premier League club Arsenal and the Costa Rica national team. His versatility has seen him operating as a forward or on the wings. Campbell often hogs the headlines with his fast-paced runs on the wings and breathtaking goals. He was highly rated by Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger and was snapped up as a teenager in 2011 but spent his first three seasons at the club on loan at three different clubs. His competitive debut at Arsenal came only in 2014 but has become a regular with the national squad. He has earned 55 caps already and has 11 goals to his credit in national colors. He has already played in CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America. But it is his success as a key member of the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final reaching squad that is a highlight of his career so far.
Highlighted Team (Serbia):
Serbia have been playing as an independent nation since 2006. The Serbs made it to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals and despite defeating star-studded Germany in the group stages of the showpiece tournament in South Africa, they eventually failed to book their place in the last 16. The Eagles, though, failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as they experienced all sorts of problems in their qualifying group. A number of top-class footballers played for Serbia and former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic is regarded as one of the best players in the history of the Serbian national team. Vidic scored two goals in 56 appearances for Serbia and he announced his retirement from the national team on 24 October, 2011. The Eagles play their home game at Stadion Rajko Mitic and it has to be noted that they defeated Czech Republic 3-1 in their first international game under the name of Serbia. Serbia play their home games in red shirts and red shorts, while the colour of their away kit is white.
