Colombia vs Costa Rica

The team coached by Argentine Jose Pekerman expected this Saturday at 8:00 pm finish unbeaten phase groups and perfect score.

Colombia and Costa Rica reach their final game of the group stage of the Copa America Centenario with two completely opposite sporting realities and with different objectives for  , favorite to win Colombian team,  and your opponent is on the ropes. 

While  Colombia is unbeaten and is the leader in Group A  after the triumphs against the United States (2-0) and Paraguay (2-1), Costa Rica is without a win and just one draw, which managed to the red and white (0-0) as the hosts lost 4-0.

The coffee combined first selection qualified for the quarter-finals as favorite part why this  Saturday from 8:00 pm  in the NRG Stadium in Houston.  

This is a victory that Colombians want because it will assure them, without relying on what makes the United States to Paraguay, the first group and  have rival in the quarterfinals to second - ranked B could be Ecuador or Peru.

The Argentine  Jose Pekerman, head of the team of Colombia, which onThursday  and directed his first training session with the squad in Houston , was confident and his only concern is to see how they evolve some of the headlines players who were injured in the previous two games .

This is the case of defenders  Cristian Zapata and Santiago Arias , who confirmed his improvement dragging muscle discomfort, but they are certainly facing the match against Costa Rica.

Pekerman, a supporter of rotations,  will have more justification shows men of energy to their game against an opponent that is virtually eliminated and the history between the two, Colombia has won four games in clashes between the two.

In addition,  the defense has been the weakest part of Colombia,  who suffered against the United States and Paraguay as both teams attacked from the sides.

We will have to wait and see  what scheme you decide to form Pekerman against Costa Rica  if you use the 4-2-3-1 presented against the United States, 4-1-4-1 against Paraguay or variant 4 -4-1-1, that at certain times of both meetings also presented the Argentine coach.

Apart from what the tactical scheme that Pekerman will submit, and mong the Colombian players there is optimism about overcoming the match against Costa Rica,  although they acknowledged that work on improving aspects of the future of the tournament when everything is decided to a party.

By Costa Rica, the Costa Rican coach Oscar Ramirez,  also trained with the team on Thursday at its first session in Houston  and the goal is to go for the win, but especially give better picture than that offered to the United States when they were thrashed 4-0.

Ticos players admit that the chances of moving on to the quarterfinals are remote, since they  do not depend on themselves,  but they want to prove they are better team than seen so far in the tournament.

Ramirez wanted to work more in the mood section  than technical in terms of the recovery team, but also have plans to make any changes to the starting line facing the duel with Colombia.

Probable lineups:

Colombia:  David Ospina; Santiago Arias, Yerri Mina, Jeison Murillo, Farid Diaz;Sebastian Perez, Daniel Torres, Marlos Moreno; Edwin Cardona, James Rodriguez and Carlos Bacca.

Coach:  Jose Pekerman.

Costa Rica:  Patrick Pemberton; José Salvatierra, Johnny Acosta, Kendall Watson, Francisco Calvo; Bryan Oviedo, Randall Azofeifa, Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz; Joel Campbell and Johan Venegas.

Coach:  Oscar Ramirez.

Referee:  Jose Argote (Venezuela)

Stadium:  NRG Stadium in Houston (Texas)