Predictions & Livescore Copa America - Costa Rica vs Paraguay

Copa America - Costa Rica vs Paraguay
Match Time: 03-07-2024 09:00 Wednesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Costa Rica

After such an encouraging start to this tournament, the Costa Ricans failed to keep that momentum going in their Friday affair.

Luis Diaz converted a 31st-minute penalty, ending a four-match run for this side without conceding, while the Costa Ricans suffered their biggest defeat since a friendly against the United Arab Emirates last September (4-1 defeat).

Gustavo Alfaro's men can no longer sit back and try to frustrate the opposition, with Los Ticos needing a win and a Brazilian loss versus Colombia, plus a five-goal swing to fall their way to advance.

Costa Rica have yet to register an effort on target at the Copa America this year and are in danger of ending this tournament winless for only the second time (1997).

Only once this century have they suffered consecutive defeats in the group stage of this competition, while they have only lost their final Copa America group fixture once (4-1 defeat to Argentina).

Los Ticos are unbeaten in their previous three meetings with the Paraguayans, with the last two matches against them ending in a 0-0 draw.

Paraguay

American soil does not appear to suit Paraguay, who will exit the Copa America on Tuesday in the group stage for the first time since 2016, when this tournament took place in the US.

Paraguay have never won a Copa America fixture played in the United States but have also never gone pointless at this tournament.

The last time they went on to win a match after conceding the opening goal was in their opening Copa America fixture against Bolivia in 2021 (3-1), with La Albirroja losing every one of their encounters when going down 1-0 since then.

Daniel Garnero's men have conceded six goals in two group fixtures, the second-most at this tournament behind Bolivia (seven) and the most for the national team in a single Copa America group stage since 2001 (six).

Garnero has never lost three successive matches as national team manager, while the Paraguayans have not suffered three consecutive defeats since November 2022 to March 2023 (three).

Not since 2010 have Los Guaranies defeated Costa Rica (1-0), though they won the only meeting against them at the Copa America, 1-0 in 2004.

Prediction: Costa Rica 0-0 Paraguay