Costa Rica vs Zambia odds and betting statistics
Costa Rica vs Zambia recommended bets
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Costa Rica vs Zambia
Costa Rica to win 2-1 against Zambia- 10/1!
At 10/1, a £10 bet would return £110!
Costa Rica vs Zambia
July 31, 2023
8:00 am GMT+1
Costa Rica vs Zambia match preview
These two teams will both be heading for home following this clash in Hamilton but, make no mistake about it, both will be determined to win.
Zambia are making their World Cup debut, men’s or women’s, this summer, becoming the first landlocked African country to qualify... bet you didn’t know that!
However, this campaign certainly has not gone to plan for the Cooper Queens, who’ve lost both matches 5-0, most recently demolished by Spain on Wednesday.
After conceding 15 times in three Olympic matches two summers ago, Zambia are maintaining their record, shipping an average of five goals per game at inter-continental tournaments.
It would be pretty disastrous if Bruce Mwape’s side shipped five here but, with this team, you never know.
In all seriousness, the Copper Queens will believe they can get a result here, aiming to score their first World Cup goal and earn their first World Cup point.
Costa Rica’s record Down Under isn’t much better, beaten 3-0 by Spain in their opener, before a 2-0 defeat to Japan at Forsyth Barr Stadium five days ago.
This is las Ticas’ second World Cup appearance, holding both Spain and Korea Republic to shock draws on debut in 2015, before a defeat to Brazil denied them a place in the round of 16.
So, Amelia Valverde’s team come into this one as favourites, desperately hoping to claim Costa Rica’s maiden World Cup victory.
Having been smashed by two juggernauts, who will claim an historic victory in this game both are ultra-motivated to win at Waikato Stadium?
Costa Rica team news
Raquel Rodríguez was surprisingly only a substitute in Dunedin on Wednesday, but the Portland Thorns forward will return alongside Melissa Herrera and Priscila Chinchilla.
At centre-back, Gabriela Guillén could keep here place at centre-back, chosen over Valeria del Campo.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Solera; Coto, Villalobos, Benavides, Guillén, Elizondo; Alvarado, Villalobos, Herrera, Chinchilla; Rodríguez.
Zambia teams news
First-choice goalkeeper Hazel Nali suffered an injury just before the tournament, before Catherine Musonda was sent off in stoppage time of their opener against Japan.
This meant that Eunice Sakala, who saved a penalty with her first-ever touch at international level, albeit it was retaken, made her full-debut against Spain, although Musonda could return here.
Meantime, star midfielder Grace Chanda ruptured her ACL on the eve of the tournament; how different would Zambia’s campaign have been with her in the team?
Captain Barbra Banda, who scored hat-tricks against both Netherlands and China PR at the 2021 Olympics, will remain their main goal-threat, with Racheal Kundananji a close second.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Musonda; Belumu, Musase, Mweemba, Tembo; Wilombe, Katongo, Lungo; Ochumba, Kundananji, Banda.
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