World Cup 2018: Costa Rica vs Serbia predicted line-ups and preview – Costa Rica look to repeat the heroics of 2014
With Brazil expected to dominate Group E, Costa Rica and Serbia are in for a fight to follow them to the knockouts
COSTA RICA were the surprise package in 2014 after making it to the quarter-finals.
Serbia haven’t progressed beyond the group stage since becoming an independent nation.
Brazil are favourites for the group so second place in Group E is up for grabs. Expect one hell of a scrap.
THE MANAGERS: Mladen Krstajic, 44, won 59 caps for Serbia and was part of the “Famous Four” defence, alongside Nemanja Vidic, who conceded just one goal at the 2006 World Cup.
Took over from the sacked Slavoljub Muslin after qualification was secured.
Oscar Ramirez, nicknamed El Machillo (The blonde), has been in charge of Costa Rica since Paulo Wanchope quit in 2015.
Scotland fans may remember the former midfielder given he was in the team that beat them at Italia ’90.
KEY BATTLES/STAR MEN: Manchester United’s towering defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic is the engine of the side and provides the solid base for the likes of Dusan Tadic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to express themselves further forward.
Has a good record against the world’s heavyweights.
Keylor Navas provided heroics in goal in 2014 which earned him a move to Real Madrid and he comes into the tournament following three successive Champions League triumphs.
A hero back home, Navas, 31, will have to be at his best so Costa Rica can progress.
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WEAK LINKS: Krstajic has only been in charge since October in what is his first managerial position.
He has not taken charge of a competitive game yet so it is impossible to know what influence he will have on Serbia.
Centre back Kendall Waston has gone from first choice to twiddling his thumbs on the bench in recent months.
The Vancouver Whitecaps skipper started eight qualifiers but has been left out of recent friendlies after being questioned by the coach.
LIKELY LINE-UPS:
Costa Rica (5-4-1): Navas; Gonzalez, Duarte, Acosta, Gamboa, Oviedo; Guzman, Borges, Ruiz, Bolanos; Urena
Serbia (4-5-1): Stojkovic; Ivanovic, Milenkovic, Tosic, Kolarov; Matic, Milinkovic-Savic, Tadic, Ljajic, Kostic; Mitrovic
PREM TSAR IN THE MAKING: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lazio’s 6ft 4in attacking midfielder, is a target for Manchester United and can use the tournament to put himself in the shop window.
The former coach was sacked for failing to integrate him into the team but he is now an integral part.
THE STAT THAT MATTERS: Only Joshua Kimmich (9) provided more assists than Serbia’s Dusan Tadic (7) in the UEFA qualifiers for the World Cup in Russia
Excluding penalty shootouts, Costa Rica was one of only three teams unbeaten in 90 minutes at the 2014 World Cup alongside Germany and Holland.