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Fresh off a 2-1 victory over group rival Germany, Japan sets down on Sunday for a match against reeling Costa Rica. While Japan made their first World Cup contest a winning performance, Costa Rica lost 7-0 against Spain. Will Los Ticos bounce back with a better effort? Or will the Japanese continue to make Costa Rica’s life miserable? Check out FIFA World Cup Odds, analysis, and a free pick for Japan versus Costa Rica.

2022 FIFA World Cup Betting Analysis: Japan vs Costa Rica Group E Matchup

Japan versus Costa Rica Betting Lines and Match Info

When: Sunday, Nov. 27 at 5:00 am ET

Where: Ahamad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar

TV/Streaming: FS1

Handicap Odds: Costa Rica +1.5 -163 / Japan -1.5 +128

Moneyline Odds: Japan -222 / Costa Rica +660 / Draw +340

Total Odds: O 2.5 -125 / U 2.5 -121

Why Costa Rica is a good play versus Japan

Los Ticos’ performance versus Spain was horrendous in every way imaginable. Costa Rica didn’t get off a shot. They had possession 18% of the time. It was the worst performance so far at the tournament.

But although Los Ticos played an absolutely horrible match, there is a silver lining. Costa Rica gave up just 3 of the goals in the first half, which is to say, the four goals allowed in the second half can be attributed to Los Ticos getting down on themselves.

If Los Ticos had entered the half down a goal or even 2 goals, they would have played much better in the second half. Expect Costa Rica, a resilient team, to play with pride.

Costa Rica Last 5

L – 0-7 vs. Spain

W – 2-0 vs. Nigeria
W – 1-2 vs. Uzbekistan
D – 2-2 vs. South Korea
W – 1-0 vs. New Zealand

Costa Rica Predicted Starting Lineup

Navas
Calvo
Duarte
Oviedo
Martinez
Tejeda
Chacon
Ruiz
Watson
Contreras
Venegas

Why Japan is a good play versus Costa Rica

Down in the second half by a goal, the Japanese rallied for an improbable 2-1 victory over heavily favored Germany. Heading into the match, some soccer handicappers had wondered if Japan’s Bundesliga experience would help them versus Germany.

The answer was a resounding yes. Germany had to play without Timo Werner and Marco Reus, but the Germans are deep enough to get past missing those two.

Bottom line? Japan beat one of the better teams at the World Cup and they did it even though Japan’s opponent played the game they wanted to play.

Japan Last 5

W – 2-1 vs. Germany
L – 1-2 vs. Canada
D – 0-0 vs. Ecuador
W – 2-0 vs. United States
L – 0-3 vs. Tunisia

Japan Predicted Starting Lineup

Gonda
Taniguchi
Nagatomo
Yamane
Yoshida
Shibasaki
Kamada
Ueda
Doan
Soma

Final Betting Analysis: Costa Rica vs Japan

Spain outmatched Costa Rica big time. Los Ticos doesn’t have good enough players to hang with a team like Spain.

Unfortunately for Los Ticos, they don’t have good enough players to hang with Japan. Bundesliga teams have looked to Asia for talent and Japan has delivered. Ritsu Doan, who scored a goal against Germany, plays forward for Freiburg.

Takuma Asano, the player who scored the other goal for Japan versus the Germans, plays forward for Bochum. Both players are young and talented and should cause havoc for Costa Rica’s defense. Japan covers the handicap.

World Cup Pick: Japan -1.5

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