Costa Rica has not shown its top-ranked form in Group B of the 2015 Gold Cup. (Photo : Reuters)
Costa Rica tries to come back and live up to pre-tournament forecasts when the team goes up against Canada during the final game of Group B qualifications in the 2015 Gold Cup. The match will be held at the BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on Tuesday.
Although they have not lost any game, La Sele had been a disappointment so far as they were predicted to go head and shoulders above its bracket-mates in Group B.
Their last game, a 1-1 draw against lowly El Salvador, put them in a precarious spot to qualify in the quarterfinals, as per ESPN. They need to win this match against the Canucks and hope that Jamaica either draws or loses to La Selecta if they want to top their group.
Although for Paulo Wanchope's boys, placing second may be a blessing in disguise as they get to avoid the mighty United States in the semifinals in the process.
Meanwhile, Canada had been disappointing with no goals to boot so far in the competitions. Benito Floro's squad had been rated by NBC Sports' Pro Soccer Talk as most likely "to battle with Jamaica to finish second behind Costa Rica", but their scoreless draw with El Salvador and 0-1 loss to the Reggae Boyz put them at the last spot in the standings.
If the Canadians will be able to pull off an upset over Los Ticos, then they will enter the knockout stages and might eliminate the contenders all at the same time.
The prediction is a 3-0 rout by Costa Rica over Canada. Wanchope and company will finally see what it takes to win in the current tourney.
Costa Rica starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Alvarado; Myrie, Miller, González, Calvo; Guzmán, Borges; Ramírez, Ruiz, Campbell; Saborío
Canada starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Stamatopoulos; de Jong, Jakovic, Edgar, Ledgerwood; de Guzman, Straith, Piette; Ricketts, Akindele, Larin
