Both Brazil and Costa Rica have disappointed their fans at the start of the 2018 World Cup, so their head-to-head duel set for this Friday, June 22nd, 2018, at Saint Petersburg could be crucial for each side. After a 1-1 stalemate against Switzerland in the opening match, Brazil still can calculate, but Costa Rica cannot afford another loss after losing to Serbia 1-0 in their first match of the Group E.
Brazil vs. Costa Rica
3-Way: 1: Brazil -625; X: +650 Draw; 2: Costa Rica +2500 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -2: Brazil -110; Costa Rica +100
Total +2.5: Over -150; Under +115
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +200/-278
BRAZIL
Selecao upset their fans worldwide with a mediocre performance and a 1-1 in the opening game against Switzerland, although they were huge -220 favorites to win the match. Brazil had a good start as Philippe Coutinho scored in the 20th minute with a terrific strike from just outside of the box, but they allowed the Swiss to make a comeback, while in the final ten minutes of the clash, Brazil missed some excellent opportunities to still earn a victory. Also, they took 20 shots towards Switzerland’s net, but only four went on target.
Besides scoring the only goal for his team, Philippe Coutinho hasn’t impressed with his display, and the same story was with Brazil’s best player Neymar who couldn’t find the right rhythm in his game. The striker Gabriel Jesus was another disappointment at the front, so it seems that Selecao will have to drastically improve the play if they want to challenge the World Cup trophy. Brazil is still the biggest favorite to win the title, according to all relevant sportsbooks, with the odds at +400, while the price on Neymar to win the Golden Ball is now at +700.
COSTA RICA
The Ticos had a solid game in the opener against Serbia, creating a couple of decent scoring chances, and defending quite well for the most of the match, but in the end, they were beaten 1-0. Aleksandar Kolarov’s tremendous free-kick made the difference in this game, setting the Ticos in a very difficult position ahead of further games at 2018 World Cup. Costa Rica cannot afford another defeat against Brazil if they want to stay in the competition for the knock-out phase, but they will have a mountain to climb against Selecao to eventually avoid the loss.
Costa Rica is a massive underdog against Brazil, and the price on Ticos to win or play a draw is set at +450. Although Costa Rica has an imperative to get a positive result, they are certainly well aware of Brazil’s qualities, so the bettors can expect to see a defensive approach by Ticos. The bookies favor Costa Rica at +600 to be the lowest scoring team in Russia, while the odds on the Quarter-Finals are set at +3300.
Brazil vs. Costa Rica – Match and Odds Breakdown
With one point on the account from the first game against Switzerland, Brazil is still in a solid position to qualify from the Group E, but they need to beat Costa Rica here and take the first step toward the Round of 16. Tite’s players are certainly determined to prove their worth after a surprising 1-1 draw against the Swiss, so I think we should see an attacking approach from Brazil on this one. The price on Brazil to beat the spread at -2.5 is set at +145, and if Selecao finds the net in the first half, they should cover it without a problem.
On the other side, Costa Rica will have to defend for the most of the game, no doubt, but they could make some damage through quick counter-attacks. The odds on both teams to find the net are quite tempting at +200, and maybe it’s worth a shot. However, I think it is way better to take some more modest wages, and the price on the over 3 goals is set at +120. I believe Brazil will grab a win here, so even if Costa Rica finds the back of the net, we should see more than two goals in the total. However, all the lines and markets are available to the bettors on BetDSI Sportsbook along with plenty of betting options.
The Pick: Over 3 Goals (+120)
