Canada is on course for the 2022 World Cup
The time has come: Canada gets the first match ball in the fight for the World Cup starting places. In the night from Thursday to Friday (CET), they will face the Costa Ricans in their twelfth group match. Even a minimal point win may be enough for the Canucks to finish the group in one of the three direct starting places for the 2022 World Cup.
Canada won 1-0 against their upcoming opponents in the first round. Nevertheless, betting on a Canadian success in the second leg between the two nations is risky. After all, Canada has never won a competitive match against the Costa Ricans – will it be the same this time?
The bookmakers have the CONCACAF qualifying group leaders as favourites. They are currently offering odds of 2.50 on Costa Rica vs Canada for Bet 2. For a prediction on the hosts, on the other hand, odds of up to 3.10 are offered in case of success.
Bets on a point win for the supposed underdogs from Costa Rica are definitely worth considering their recent home record. After all, “Los Ticos” have not lost any of their last four home matches. In any case, there has only been one home defeat against Mexico in the entire World Cup qualifying campaign so far. It is quite possible that this will be repeated against the Canadians.
Costa Rica – Statistics & current form
Costa Rica have not yet ticked off their 2022 World Cup qualification. In the final spurt of the current group phase, “Los Ticos” still have the chance to at least conquer fourth place in the group. Mathematically, it is even possible to jump to a direct place in the World Cup.
The upcoming group match against Canada will set the tone. If Costa Rica lose their home match against the Canadians, one of the three direct starting places for the 2022 World Cup is no longer attainable in the worst-case scenario. In addition, the gap to fourth-placed Panama could increase.
In the event of success, however, Costa Rica could possibly overtake the Panamanians with support. So far, “Los Ticos” have won three of their five home matches. Costa Rica have also drawn one match and lost one at home. The latter was at home to Mexico, where Costa Rica came within a whisker of earning a point.
Will the defensive bulwark hold against Canada?
Because Costa Rica only conceded a narrow defeat to Canada in the first leg, it cannot be ruled out that, with the home advantage behind them, they will manage to pick up a point this time. The defensive bulwark of the “Los Ticos” speaks in favour of this. Behind teams like Canada and the USA, Costa Rica, in fifth place, has the third-strongest defensive bulwark in the group.
Most recently, Costa Rica went three consecutive World Cup qualifiers without conceding a goal. The performance against Mexico was particularly commendable, especially as the Mexicans have one of the strongest offences in the CONCACAF zone. A low-scoring encounter is also likely against the Canadians.
Currently, Costa Rica vs Canada offers decent odds for a prediction of under 2.5 goals. Bets on this have paid off in the last five international matches between the two teams. National coach Luis Fernando Suárez can draw on a wide range of options during the current international break. Only Forbes and Gamboa had to cancel their participation due to injury.
Predicted line-up of Costa Rica:
Navas – Oviedo, Calvo, Waston, Matarrita, Fuller – Leal, Tejeda, Borges, Torres – Campbell
Last matches played by Costa Rica:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
02/03 2022 – Jamaica 0 – 1 Costa Rica
01/31 2022 – Mexico 0 – 0 Costa Rica
01/28 2022 – Costa Rica 1 – 0 Panama
11/17 2021 – Costa Rica 2 – 1 Honduras
11/13 2021 – Canada 1 – 0 Costa Rica
Canada – Statistics & current form
As group leaders in the ongoing World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF zone, the Canadian national team already has the World Cup ticket within reach. Nevertheless, anything is still possible in the group, with only eight points separating Canada from fourth-placed Panama.
In the last three group games, Canada is only mathematically dependent on two more points to secure a place in the desert World Cup in Qatar, even without any support. Since they have not lost any of their eleven group games so far, it is obvious that Canada will also master the final spurt in the current World Cup qualification.
Statistically, the “Canucks” have the best offence and the strongest defence in the group so far. Players like Cyle Larin and Jonathan David have played a big part in the goal haul with five goals each in qualifying.
No win in Costa Rica again?
Since splitting points in Jamaica, Canada have won each of their last six matches in 2022 World Cup qualifying. The Canadian national team even went without conceding a goal in four of their last six group matches, including the showdown against their neighbours from the United States, which Canada won 2-0 at their own stadium.
In Costa Rica, however, the “Canucks” have so far never won a competitive match against their upcoming opponents. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that the negative trend will continue this time. However, bettors who would like to make a prediction on Costa Rica vs. Canada can get odds of up to 2.50 in the event of success.
National coach John Herdman will again have to do without star player Alphonso Davies during the current international break. Otherwise, the head coach of the “Canucks” has all options available in the national squad.
Predicted line-up of Canada:
Borjan – Adekugbe, Vitoria, Johnston – Osorio, Eustaquio – Buchanan, Hutchinson, Hoilett – Larin, David
Last matches played by Canada:
World Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF Finals
02/03 2022 – El Salvador 0 – 2 Canada
01/30 2022 – Canada 2 – 0 USA
01/28 2022 – Honduras 0 – 2 Canada
11/17 2021 – Canada 2 – 1 Mexico
11/13 2021 – Canada 1 – 0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica – Canada Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
This is the 24th time the two teams have met. So far, Costa Rica leads the head-to-head comparison against the Canadians with a record of 8-9-6. In the 23 international matches between the two nations, an average of 1.61 goals per game has been scored. It is therefore natural to bet on a low-scoring encounter between Costa Rica and Canada.
Canada has won two matches in a row against the “Los Ticos”. Prior to that, Costa Rica remained unbeaten against the Canadian national team five times in a row. During this period, however, Costa Rica have only managed one win against the Canucks.
Costa Rica – Canada betting tips
Canada is by no means under pressure to win in the upcoming group match against the Costa Ricans. The “Canucks” can even secure their place in the 2022 World Cup with a draw and a bit of help from the shooting gallery. It would therefore be more than surprising if Canada took greater risks in the group match in Costa Rica.
Los Ticos, on the other hand, have to win the match to keep their chances of making it to the 2022 World Cup alive. Currently, fourth place is still within reach, just one point behind. Because the six-point match against Panama has already been played, Costa Rica can only make the leap to fourth place with the help of foxes.
Last year, the two teams met twice. Canada not only won the match in the 2021 Gold Cup, but also celebrated a victory against Costa Rica in the first round of the current 2022 World Cup qualifiers. In both international matches, the Canadian national team remained without conceding a goal against Costa Rica.
A clean sheet can by no means be ruled out this time either. We expect a match of equals for long stretches, in which the two defensive bulwarks will shine above all. We therefore expect Costa Rica and Canada to draw before the break. A bet on this will be rewarded with odds of up to 1.91 in the event of success.
