Costa Rica vs Paraguay prediction and betting tips - July 3, 2024
In the final match of the group stage of Copa America, Costa Rica will face Paraguay. The match will take place in the early hours of Wednesday, July 3rd, starting at 3:00 AM Central European Time.
Costa Rica
The Costa Ricans managed to surprise fans at the start of Copa America. In their first game, they played against one of the tournament favorites, Brazil. In this match, Costa Rica focused on defense despite Brazil's formidable attack. Costa Rica managed to hold on for a hard-fought draw against the Brazilians, ending 0-0. However, this effort was nullified in their next match. Costa Rica faced Colombia and suffered a crushing defeat, losing 0-3. Consequently, after two matches, they have only one point and very slim chances of advancing to the playoffs. To achieve this, they would need to win against Paraguay by a large margin and hope for Brazil's defeat. Such a scenario seems highly improbable.
Overall, Costa Rica doesn't frequently participate in Copa America. This tournament marks their sixth appearance. They have reached the playoffs twice, in 2001 and 2006, but have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals. I believe this year, Costa Rica's chances of reaching the quarter-finals are minimal.
Paraguay
Unlike Costa Rica, Paraguay has no chances of advancing to the Copa America playoffs. In their first game of the tournament, they faced Colombia. Paraguay managed to put up a fight, but victory eluded them, resulting in a 1-2 loss. In the following game, Paraguay encountered a true powerhouse. Brazil scored three goals in the first half and sealed the deal in the second half. The match ended in a resounding 1-4 defeat for Paraguay.
Consequently, Paraguay hasn't earned any points in their first two matches and has no chance of reaching the quarter-finals. For the first time since 2016, Paraguay will not advance to the playoffs. Incidentally, the tournament was also held in the USA that year. It appears that American soil does not favor the Paraguayan national team.
Interesting facts about the match and head-to-head history
- The last head-to-head match between Costa Rica and Paraguay took place in 2016 and ended in a 0-0 draw.
- Paraguay has scored one or fewer goals in eight consecutive matches.
Costa Rica vs Paraguay prediction
For both teams, this match carries no significant pressure. While Costa Rica still has a theoretical chance of advancing, it is highly unlikely, making it difficult to achieve. With no pressure on either Paraguay or Costa Rica, my bet is on the total match score being over 2, with odds of 1.77.
