In a crucial match to keep their quarter-final hopes alive in the Copa America for the first time since 2004, Costa Rica will face Paraguay at Q2 Stadium on Tuesday.
Costa Rica is currently third in Group D with one point after a 3-0 loss to Colombia in their second match. Paraguay, who suffered a 4-1 defeat to Brazil, has been eliminated from the competition. Despite a promising start, Costa Rica lost momentum in their recent game.
Luis Diaz's 31st-minute penalty for Colombia ended Costa Rica's four-match streak without conceding, resulting in their heaviest defeat since a 4-1 friendly loss to the United Arab Emirates last September.
Gustavo Alfaro’s team must now win against Paraguay and hope for a Brazilian loss to Colombia, with a five-goal swing in their favor, to advance.
Costa Rica has yet to register a shot on target in this tournament and risks finishing winless for only the second time since 1997. They have only once suffered consecutive group stage defeats in the Copa America and have only lost their final group stage match once (4-1 to Argentina).
Costa Rica is unbeaten in their last three meetings with Paraguay, with the last two ending in 0-0 draws. Paraguay, on the other hand, has struggled on American soil, exiting the group stage in the US for the first time since 2016. They have never won a Copa America match in the US but have also never gone without a point in the tournament.
The last time Paraguay won a match after conceding first was against Bolivia in 2021 (3-1). Since then, they have lost every game after going down 1-0. Paraguay has conceded six goals in two matches, the second-highest in the tournament, and the most for them in a single Copa America group stage since 2001.
Manager Daniel Garnero has never lost three consecutive matches with the national team, and Paraguay has not suffered three straight defeats since November 2022 to March 2023. Paraguay's last win against Costa Rica was in 2010 (1-0), and they won their only Copa America meeting 1-0 in 2004.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Costa Rica will be missing striker Manfred Ugalde for this crucial match after he received a second yellow card in the tournament on Friday. In their second match, the only change to their starting lineup was Warren Madrigal replacing Jefferson Brenes.Paraguay will be without midfielder Andres Cubas, who is suspended after receiving a straight red card late in their last game. Damian Bobadilla was the only new addition to their starting lineup in that match.
Paraguay's sole goal in the tournament so far was scored by Omar Alderete, marking the first international goal for the Getafe defender.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Costa Rica possible starting lineup:P. Sequeira; Mitchell, Vargas, Calvo; Quiros, Galo, Brenes, Lassiter; Zamora, Campbell; Contreras
Paraguay possible starting lineup:
Morinigo; Velazquez, Balbuena, Alderete, Espinoza; Caballero, Villasanti; Bobadilla, Enciso, Sosa; Romero
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Costa Rica 0-1 Paraguay
Both teams have played cautiously throughout the tournament due to a lack of creativity and quality to break down their opponents.
While Costa Rica still has something to fight for, we don't think they have the necessary resources to overcome Paraguay in this match.
