Costa Rica vs Paraguay predictions: Goals at a premium in Texas showdown
- Costa Rica are yet to score at Copa America 2024
- The last two meetings between Costa Rica and Paraguay have ended goalless
- Recommended bet: Under 1.5 total goals
Goals look set to be at a premium in this Copa America Group D game when Costa Rica and Paraguay look horns in Austin, Texas on Wednesday morning (2am kick-off).
Paraguay head into this game at Q2 Stadium knowing they have no chance of reaching the Copa America quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat to Colombia was followed by a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Brazil.
Costa Rica showed fight with a goalless draw against Brazil in their opening game but a 3-0 hammering against Colombia means they too are set for an early exit from the major tournament in the United States, barring an unlikely set of results.
Team news
Having received a second yellow card in the group stage, Costa Rica will have to do without Spartak Moscow striker Manfred Ugalde for Wednesday morning’s game in Austin.
Warren Madrigal came into the fold in place of Jefferson Brenes as the one change for Costa Rica in their game against Colombia and he will be hoping to have done enough to earn another starting role.
As for Paraguay, midfielder Andres Cubas was shown a straight red card against Brazil and will play no further part in the tournament.
Damian Bobadilla was the only change to the starting line against Brazil from the opening defeat to Colombia and he too will be hoping for another start on Wednesday.
The stats
Costa Rica have a terrible record when it comes to scoring goals at the Copa America, failing to find the back of the net in seven of their last nine games in the competition.
Los Ticos have won just one of their last six Copa America games, with their last victory in the competition coming back in 2016 in a shock 3-2 win over Colombia.
Paraguay’s record at the Copa America is nothing to write home about either, with just two wins from their last 16 games in the tournament.
The last time Costa Rica and Paraguay met in the Copa America was back in 2016, and the game finished goalless.
Prediction
Given the lack of goals for Costa Rica in this competition and Paraguay’s struggles in recent weeks, it is hard to see there being too many goals in this contest at Q2 Stadium.
A goalless draw in Austin would be no surprise, especially given the fact the last two meetings between these nations have also lacked a single goal.
On the off-chance one side might break the deadlock in Wednesday’s game, that is likely to be enough to win the match.
Going with under 1.5 total goals covers that eventuality in a game that is sadly unlikely to be one for the ages.
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