England vs Costa Rica: One Last Test For The Three Lions Before the Main Event
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
England: Three Lions Seeking Sharper Edge Ahead of World Cup Kick-Off
England is among the top three with the best online betting sites to reach the final and be named the World Champions. However, it hasn't been a great showing from the 1966 champions in the pre-World Cup warm-up friendlies.
Indeed, the Three Lions got their World Cup preparations off to a positive start, overcoming New Zealand 1-0 at the Raymond James Stadium. Harry Kane, a pivotal figure for the nation, who has been in scorching form, scored the winning goal at the interval. It was his 79th international goal in 113 appearances before Thomas Tuchel made 11 changes in the second half.
The last time England fielded 22 different players in a match was in June 2004 when they won 6-1 at City of Manchester Stadium. It was the final warm-up fixture ahead of the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.
Expectations were leaning towards a dominant victory in Tampa's searing heat, and for the entire match, they were the superior side. From creating numerous chances to dominating possession, a clear lack of cutting edge was their undoing.
England's stats against New Zealand:
| England | Stats | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| 1.54 | Expected goals (xG) | 0.12 |
| 71% | Ball possession | 29% |
| 23 | Total shots | 3 |
| 4 | Shots on target | 1 |
| 3 | Big chances | 0 |
| 8 | Corner Kicks | 1 |
| 93% (609/658) | Passes | 82% (214/262) |
As Thomas Tuchel gears up for his first managerial role at the 2026 World Cup, the 52-year-old will be hoping to secure a more convincing result against Costa Rica to help his side build momentum.
Since taking over the club in January 2025, the German meticulous perfectionist has recorded ten wins in his last 13 games in charge, boasting a 76.9% win rate. This has also seen him reach a milestone in the nation's history, becoming the fastest manager to reach double-digit figures.
He has the opportunity to record his 11th win as head coach for the England senior national team when he takes on Costa Rica. The Three Lions are meeting this opponent for the third time in their history and have yet to lose, recording one win and one draw.
Their latest win was in June 2018 when Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck scored twice in a 2-0 home victory. Can they repeat the same feat with a squad filled with talented players? Check out our England vs Costa Rica prediction for more insights into the game.
See England's past two meetings with Costa Rica:
- 24 June 2014 (FIFA World Cup - Group D - Round 03) - Costa Rica 0:0 England
- 07 June 2018 (International friendly) - England 2:0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica: A Nation in Transition Meets a World Cup Favourite
Unfortunately, the 2026 World Cup in North America won't see the stadiums filled with vibrant red home jerseys and casual, patriotic gear in red, white, and blue. Costa Rica, who have appeared at the finals in five of their last six appearances, couldn't find it in them to secure qualification in the current edition.
It's not a surprise to many that Costa Rica wasn't able to secure World Cup qualification given their unconvincing performance in FIFA World Cup Concacaf qualifiers. The last time they came short was in 2006.
Los Ticos had one of the toughest group stages in Concacaf qualifiers Group C. From managerial turmoil to squandering late leads in front of their home supporters, one can say that their third-place finish, which led to their elimination, was hardly surprising.
Head coach Miguel "Piojo" Herrera, who the Costa Rican Football Federation sacked after that failure, saw his side nick a goalless draw against Honduras in the final game of the Concacaf qualifiers. It was a dreadful run, recording one win in six group stage games (D4, L1).
Fernando Batista succeeds his predecessor, Piojo, in what is believed to be a long-term building project. Batista has only managed Venezuela at the international level and was also recently shown the door after World Cup qualifying failure when his side finished eighth in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, just two points shy of the intercontinental playoff spot.
While it’s still early to judge whether he can be the light at the end of the other tunnel for the Central American nation, results so far suggest he has not yet managed to get the ball rolling in the right direction. The Argentinian head coach has failed to win his last three international friendlies, and defensive lapses have been evident with ten goals conceded.
Costa Rica's last three international friendlies:
- 27 March 2026 - Jordan 2:2 Costa Rica
- 31 March 2026 - Costa Rica 0:5 Iran
- 02 June 2026 - Colombia 3:1 Costa Rica
Josimar Alcocer, an influential player for the team, was involved in two of those goals during the international friendlies, scoring against Jordan and providing an assist for Andrey Soto, who slotted home against Colombia. The Westerlo player has seven international goals to his name and is eyeing an eighth.
