Costa Rica vs Germany Prediction: A must win match for Germany

Group E's two worst teams are gearing up for a thrilling struggle to qualify for the World Cup 2022 on Thursday when Costa Rica takes on Germany at the Al Bayt Stadium. In their most recent match, Hansi Flick's squad fought back in the final minutes to salvage a 1-1 draw against Spain, while Los Ticos maintained their hopes of advancing to the round of 16 alive with a 1-0 victory over Japan.

Costa Rica Starting 11 (5-4-1): Navas, Duarte, Watson, Calvo, Oviedo, Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Campbell, Torres, Contreras.

Germany Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Rudiger, Sule, Kehrer, Raum, Kimmich, Goretzka, Gundogan, Musiala, Gnabry, Muller.

Last Five Matches: WLWWD

FIFA World Ranking: 31st

Costa Rica picked themselves up after getting blown out by Spain by seven goals and faced a Japan team that had beaten Germany four days prior, but this time it was Japan that would be humbled. Despite Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda's best efforts, Keysher Fuller's 81st-minute shot found the top corner and set off wild celebrations on the Costa Rican side, whose fate is once again in their own hands. A win over Germany this week would put Costa Rica in third place with three points, tied with second-placed Japan and only one behind first-placed Spain before their showdown at the top of the table. If Spain beats Japan, whose goal difference of 0 is much bigger than Costa Rica's -6, a draw would be good enough for Luis Fernando Suarez's team to advance to the semifinals; on the other hand, elimination in the round of 16 would make it impossible for them to improve on their previous quarterfinal appearance in 2014.

Last Five Matches: DLWDL

FIFA World Ranking: 11th

The Germans' stomachs plummeted when Alvaro Morata's near-post Flick went in for Spain on Sunday night. With the 2014 World Cup champions facing the barrel of yet another catastrophic early relegation from football's grandest stage, this was a particularly crushing blow. However, having been given a chance to strut his stuff in the number nine spot by Flick, Werder Bremen talisman Niclas Fullkrug lashed home a thunderous effort in the 83rd minute to rescue what could prove to be a vital point for Die Mannschaft, who also had an Antonio Rudiger goal ruled out for offside on the day. Nothing less than a win would do for Germany if they are to break into the top two on Thursday, and a victory for Flick's team, coupled with a Spain win over Japan, would ensure that the one-point basement side goes to the last 16. If Spain and Japan end in a tie, Germany would need to win by at least two goals to overtake Japan for second place. If Hajime Moriyasu's team manages to pull off an upset and defeat La Roja, Flick's squad would need a five-goal swing in their favor to eliminate Spain.

Even though six of the current crop played when Los Ticos secured a famous 1-0 victory over Italy eight years ago, the aging veterans are facing a different kettle of fish this week. The only other time Costa Rica managed to win consecutive World Cup matches was in 2014. Two victories out of ten in all competitions are hardly encouraging heading into a match of this magnitude, especially considering that a tie or loss would mean Germany would be eliminated from a tournament in consecutive group stages for the first time in their illustrious history.

Prediction: The Costa Ricans may have enough fire in the belly, but their lack of a goal threat from their attackers will be expensive against Germany. We expect Die Mannschaft to break down the defense-heavy Ticos side and do all they can to push for a top-two finish, leaving their fate in the hands of Spain and Japan. Bringing in the likes of Sane and Fullkrug from the start should help Flick's side lay down an early marker at the Al Bayt Stadium.

• Germany to Win and Both Teams to Score
• Under 3.5 Goals
• Germany Under 3.5 Goals

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