The action in the Group E at the 2018 FIFA World Cup starts on Sunday, June 17th, 2018, when Costa Rica goes on Serbia at Samara Arena in Samara. Both teams are aiming the second round in Russia, although the other two in this group are bigger favorites to reach the knock-out phase, so we should see an entertaining game where Serbia is considered as a +104 favorite to grab a win. The bookies set the odds on Costa Rica to avoid the loss at -156, so let’s see what can the bettors expect from these two sides.
Costa Rica vs. Serbia
3-Way: 1: Costa Rica +280; X: +220 Draw; 2: Serbia +104 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: Costa Rica -115; Serbia +104
Total +2: Over -115; Under +100
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: +110/-152
COSTA RICA
The Ticos were the biggest surprise of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where they managed to top their group ahead of three giants Uruguay, Italy, and England, eventually losing to the Netherlands in the Quarter-Finals on penalties after goalless 120 minutes of soccer. Costa Rica’s tactical play was exceptional, as Ticos always knew what they have to do against each opponent, mostly relying on a tough defense and dangerous counter-attacks. This summer in Russia, we will see almost identical Costa Rica team, just four years older, but the bookmakers set the odds on Ticos to qualify for the Round of 16 at +350.
In the qualifying round for this World Cup, Costa Rica had a 4-4-2 record with a goal difference of 14:8, while seven out of their ten games had two goals in the total or fewer. Sturdy defense is still their trademark as a goalkeeper Keylor Navas is a true leader on the field. Navas is a top-notch keeper with remarkable reflexes who can make a difference in big games, while the manager Oscar Ramirez prefers to play with five men at the back. The captain Bryan Ruiz will lead the frontline along with a skillful winger Joel Campbell who was tremendous back in 2014, while box-to-box midfielder Celso Borges will be another threat for Serbia’s defense.
SERBIA
The Eagles had a strong qualifying campaign, finishing on the top of their group with a 6-3-1 goal difference and a goal difference of 20:10, while six out of their ten matches had at least three goals on the scoreboard. However, they’ve decided to sack Slavoljub Muslin due to supposed disagreement about squad managing, replacing him with a rookie Mladen Krstajic who was a top-class player back in his days but never led the team on his own before. Krstajic introduced some new players into the Serbia squad for 2018 World Cup, including Lazio’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic who’s considered as one of the most gifted young midfielders in the world.
However, the team’s play hasn’t progressed under Krstajic, neither Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has proved his worth to the team. Serbia has beaten Nigeria 2-0 in the recent friendly, but Eagles have also disappointed their fans in a 1-0 loss against Chile, not to mention an awful performance in a 2-1 defeat against Morocco. It seems like there’s no system in Serbia’s play, while Mladen Krstajic moon between a 4-5-1 and 3-4-2-1 formation. The defensive line looks unorganized, while midfielders struggle to create decent chances in the final third, although Serbia’s midfield should be the strongest part of this team, at least when you look at names on a paper.
Costa Rica vs. Serbia – Match and Odds Breakdown
By comparing players from these two teams, the bettors can induce that Serbia possesses more talent among the squad than Costa Rica, and that is why bookmakers favor the Eagles to win this game. However, names don’t play soccer, and at this moment, Costa Rica looks like a more organized side than Serbia, no doubt, so I’m not sure who’s a true favorite here indeed. Likewise, there is still time for Eagles to fix problems and gel the things in their team or surprisingly find the right model how to use their advantages on the pitch.
Serbia’s players are certainly better technicians than Ticos, so they should control the ball in the midfield, while Costa Rica will sit back and wait for chances to launch quick counter-attacks, just the way they like it. Both teams should take a patient approach, as it is the first game of the group phase with two more to go, so eventual defeat will put losers in a difficult position. With a draw here, both Serbia and Costa Rica should be satisfied, so I don’t expect to see a lot of risks on this one. However, a potential opening goal will surely change the tempo, and I’m pretty concerned about Serbia’s defense, so betting on the totals could be a tricky job, although it looks like we shouldn’t see a bunch of goals.
I will go with both teams to score here attempting wages, as I somehow think the game will be ended in a 1-1 draw, while the bettors can check out all lines and markets on BetDSI Sportsbook, as they will cover all FIFA World Cup games this summer.
The Pick: Both Teams to Score YES (+110)
