Costa Rica and Qatar meet at PROfertil ARENA, in a friendly match. This will be the 4th of the year for Costa Rica, after the previous ones against Panama and the United States. In the case of Qatar, this is their 2nd friendly match of the year, after the previous friendly against Ghana. These two teams have never met before, so this will be their first head-to-head meeting. In this game, the home factor may be decisive, since Costa Rica presents considerable differences in its results at home and as a visitor.
Costa Rica:
This is the 4th friendly of the year for the home team, after previous friendlies in which they registered the following results: Costa Rica (0‑1) Panama, Costa Rica (0‑1) Panama and United States (1‑0) Costa Rica. This is a stronger team with the support of its fans, since in the last 30 games it has registered 2 wins, 2 draws and 11 losses as a visitor; against 7 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in his stadium. In their last 6 home games, Costa Rica has registered 3 wins and 3 losses. Their defense has not been very strong, since they have suffered goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In 14 games, he only managed 1 comeback in the 9 games in which he suffered the first goal.
Costa Rica comes to this game unmotivated, after a 0x1 defeat at the reception to Panama, thus adding the fourth consecutive game without winning in various competitions. It should be noted that Costa Ricans have won only 3 of the last 10 games. In general, coach Rónald González acts in 3-5-2, favoring maintenance of possession and attacks from the flanks: Joel Campbell is very fast and strong on the counterattack. After being out in the last game, Keylor Nava returns to the team and is expected to take over the captain’s armband. All players are available for this game.
Qatar:
The visiting team plays its 2nd friendly match of the year, after having faced Ghana, in a match that ended with the score: Ghana (5‑1) Qatar. This is a team little affected by the home factor, that is, it presents similar results at home and away, since in the last 30 games it has registered 8 wins, 1 draw and 6 losses as a visitor, with 25 goals scored and 17 suffered; against 10 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats in his stadium, with 34 goals scored and 14 suffered. In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, Qatar has won 5, drew 1 and lost 4. Their attack has scored regularly, scoring goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In 15 games, he never got the comeback in the 7 games in which he suffered the first goal. In the last 13 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have scored 9 of their 25 goals between minutes (76′ ‑ 90 ‘).
Qatar comes to this match motivated, after a 5×1 victory against Ghana, thus adding the second consecutive victory in various competitions: Almoez Ali scored the only goal of the team. Qatar generally plays in a 3-4-3 tactical system, favoring a more cautious style of play, attacking through the flanks. On an individual level we highlight the right winger Akram Afif, a very fast player and very strong in the counterattack. Coach Félix Sánchez can count on all his players.
