The much-awaited first game for Brazil at Copa America 2024 is here. Look ahead to the match with our Brazil vs Costa Rica prediction and preview.
Brazil vs Costa Rica Stats: The Key Insights
- The Opta supercomputer makes Brazil the heavy favourites, as they beat Costa Rica in 71% of pre-match simulations.
- Brazil have a record of eight wins and three losses against CONCACAF teams in the Copa America. They have not lost to a team from this confederation since the 2007 edition (2-0 vs. Mexico).
- Costa Rica have lost one of their last four matches against CONMEBOL teams in the Copa America (W2 D1) and will seek to string together victories for the first time against South American opponents in the competition after defeating Colombia 3-2 in the 2016 edition.
Endrick is confident he can help Brazil claim a 10th Copa America title as he prepares for his first international tournament with the Seleção Canarinho.
Brazil kickstart their campaign at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Monday against Costa Rica.
Dorival Júnior’s side will also face Paraguay and Colombia in Group E, hopeful of going one better this time around having lost to Argentina in the 2021 final.
The 17-year-old, who officially joins Real Madrid next month, has scored three goals in his last four games for Brazil but knows he will have to remain patient for his opportunity at the Copa America.
“Only God knows [when I will start],” Endrick said. I am very grateful to have Abel [Ferreira] as a coach, he knew when to play me.
“Everything is up to God and Dorival Júnior, the professor. He is a spectacular coach. He is doing what is best for the Brazilian team.
“I have always been very precocious in my life and since I became a professional I have played against opponents who have always teased me, insulted me, talked about my family, my girlfriend.
“But I got used to it quickly because I was 16. I’m calm, and I hope I can help. I think it’s right, in football you have to destabilise the other player.
“It’s been like that since I arrived, so I’ve adapted, and I’m very confident that I can help the team.”
Brazil come into this tournament having enjoyed decent form in 2024 so far, as does Endrick, who has scored in three of their four games. After losing their final three games in 2023, they enjoyed a 1-0 win over England at Wembley in March, followed by a 3-3 draw versus Spain just days later. On the eve of this tournament, they beat Mexico 3-2 before drawing 1-1 with the United States.
For Costa Rica head coach Gustavo Alfaro, he has experience at the Copa America having guided Ecuador to the quarter-finals of the previous tournament in 2021.
The 61-year-old also took them to the following year’s World Cup, where they opened with a 2-0 win against hosts Qatar before drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands, but failed to reach the knockouts after losing 2-1 to Senegal in their final group game.
However, Alfaro faces a different proposition with Los Ticos. Costa Rica have failed to make it beyond the group stages in each of the last two appearances; they last did so in 2004, but their recent form holds reason for optimism.
Costa Rica have won four of their previous six international fixtures, losing only once over that stretch (3-1 to Argentina). They have also not conceded in any of their last three competitive fixtures, winning 15 of their previous 16 encounters when scoring the opening goal.
Players to Watch
Brazil: Vinícius Júnior
Vinícius Júnior played a starring role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League successes in 2023-24, and claiming a first international honour with his nation would surely put the 23-year-old in pole position to scoop the Ballon d’Or.
The Los Blancos star had 33 goal involvements (24 goals and 9 assists) in 39 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish side, his second-best campaign since his move to Madrid in 2021-22 (22 goals and 20 assists).
Costa Rica: Manfred Ugalde
Having failed to score for his new side, Spartak Moscow, after his move from FC Twente in January, Ugalde rediscovered his goal-scoring touch at the opportune moment heading into the tournament.
The 22-year-old striker grabbed a goal and three assists in Costa Rica’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers against Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, and will be hoping to continue that form in Inglewood against Brazil.
Brazil vs Costa Rica Squads
Brazil
Alisson Becker, Bento, Rafael, Beraldo, Bremer, Danilo, Éder Militão, Gabriel Magalhães, Guilherme Arana, Marquinhos, Wendell, Yan Couto, Andreas Pereira, Bruno Guimarães, Douglas Luiz, Éderson, João Gomes, Lucas Paquetá, Endrick, Evanilson, Gabriel Martinelli, Pepê, Raphinha, Rodrygo, Savinho, Vinícius Júnior.
Head coach: Dorival Júnior
Costa Rica
Aarón Cruz, Kevin Chamorro, Patrick Sequeira, Fernán Faerrón, Francisco Calvo, Gerald Taylor, Haxzel Quirós, Jeyland Mitchell, Joseph Mora, Juan Pablo Vargas, Julio Cascante, Yeison Molina, Alejandro Bran, Brandon Aguilera, Douglas Sequeira, Jefferson Brenes, Orlando Galo, Álvaro Zamora, Andy Rojas, Anthony Contreras, Ariel Lassiter, Joel Campbell, Josimar Alcócer, Kenneth Vargas, Manfred Ugalde, Warren Madrigal.
Head coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Brazil vs Costa Rica Prediction
The Opta supercomputer is heavily backing Brazil to win their opening game of the 2024 Copa America. They won 71.0% of the pre-match simulations, while Costa Rica won just 12.9%.
Brazil and Costa Rica have faced each other twice in the Copa America, with both seeing victories for the Brazilian team in 1997 (5-0) at the Estadio Ramon Tahuichi Aguilera and in 2004 (4-1) with Adriano scoring a hat-trick for Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side.
The Seleção Canarinho have won 10 of their 11 meetings against their opponents, with their last defeat coming in the Panamerican Championship in March 1960 (3-0), with Brazil backed to continue their nine-game unbeaten run.
Costa Rica will look to continue their impressive record against CONMEBOL teams at the Copa America, having lost one of their last four matches against them (W2 D1).
Gustavo Alfaro’s side will seek to string together victories for the first time against CONMEBOL opponents in the competition, having defeated Colombia 3-2 in the 2016 edition.
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