Costa Rica v Greece: Los Ticos not done thrilling just yet
Published:Hands up who predicted a Costa Rica v Greece second-round match-up before this World Cup? That’s nobody then.
Nevertheless, being pitted against a Greek side that required a self-manufactured Georgios Samaras penalty just to squeeze through at the 11th hour, is no less than Los Ticos deserve.
Here are three best bests for this battle of the Brazil underdogs:
We fully expect the tournament’s biggest surprise package to do Greece what they did to both Uruguay and Italy on their way to Group D victory.
The Central American minnows ran riot against a supposedly well-organised Uruguayan outfit in the second-half of their opening match before setting the Azzurri on the path towards World Cup oblivion with a well-deserved 1-0 victory.
Meanwhile, this limited Greece side – fortunate to be dropped into an open Group C – were soundly thrashed by Colombia, were typically obstinate in a dire 0-0 draw and exceedingly lucky to scrape past Ivory Coast.
Alright, Uruguay were bereft of their soon-to-be muzzled striker Luis Suarez in their opening game, but that Edinson Cavani penalty is still the only goal to have nestled in Los Ticos’ net so far.
As England found out, Levante stopper Keylor Navas has lived up to his reputation as one of the best guardians of the net in La Liga, showing bravery, lightning reflexives and aerial conviction.
Greece, lacking for any striker in form, drew blanks in their opening two Group C games and have only netted once from open play in Brazil.
Working on the theory that Greece are more toothless than a newborn baba up top, it’s certainly worth a dabble backing Los Ticos in the coupled correct score market.
Although Greece were schooled in their opener against an expansive Colombian side, that was the first time in a dozen internationals they’d conceded more than twice.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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