Colombia vs. Costa Rica
Copa America Centenario – Group A
June 11 | 9:00 pm ET | NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV: FS2, Univision, UDN
The task for Costa Rica doesn’t get any easier on Sunday evening, when the face Colombia with their Copa America hopes hanging by the smallest of threads.
The Ticos were shellacked to the tune of a 4-0 scoreline by the United States on Tuesday. Now, only a win will do against the powerful Colombian. Even then, the Costa Ricans will need other results to break their way. Colombia, meanwhile, have already secured advancement and will likely earn first place in the group. Still, they will need at least a point to be absolutely certain of securing that position.
Where are the goals?
Costa Rica have failed to find the net through 180 minutes at the Copa America Centenario, which is one of the easiest ways to find yourself heading home after the group stage. Arsenal property Joel Campbell has been largely anonymous, and Costa Rica’s creativity will certainly be hampered by the fact that that they will have to account for a Colombia side that is lethal in transition. Ticos coach Oscar Ramirez gambled big by starting two more attack-minded midfielders against the US, and lost big-time. It’d be suicide to try that again, and that means Costa Rica’s task of scoring a goal in this tournament, to say nothing of getting the win they need, will likely be all that much harder.
The other danger men
We all know by now what James Rodriguez can do. The Real Madrid midfielder has been stupendous so far this tournament, and overcame an injury scare to bag his second goal of the tournament plus an assist to overcome Paraguay. But what of his running mates in the Colombia attack?
It’s worth watching out for Milan man Carlos Bacca, who you may remember struck the bar vs. the United States before finding the net against Paraguay. And if things are looking good for Colombia towards the end of the game, we may just see a little bit more of Marlos Moreno, the domestic sensation who will be looking to make his mark on the international stage after getting a brief run-out in the dying minutes of Colombia’s last game.
What’s the scenario?
Here’s the nitty-gritty of it: First and foremost, Costa Rica will be looking closely at the 7 pm ET kick off between the US and Paraguay If the US win, Costa Rica are done. In the event of a draw or a Paraguay win, the goal differential tiebreaker means that the Ticos will need to blow out Colombia to even have a hope of making the quarterfinals – in other words, it would take nothing short of a miracle. You can do the math here.
On the other side, Colombia were the first team to clinch a quarterfinal berth at the Copa America, and are almost assured of first place in the group. A win or a draw will secure the top spot and help them avoid a likely showdown with Brazil in the quarterfinals. Should Colombia lose, they will still finish first if Paraguay beats the US or those two teams draw. However, if Colombia lose and the US win, both teams will be even on six points and the US would clinch first by virtue of superior goal differential.
