Costa Rica vs. Paraguay Copa America 2016 Group A Preview, Predictions, Streaming Info As Costa Rica Starts Life Without Keylor Navas
Costa Rica and Paraguay face off in the Copa America 2016 Centenario group stage on Saturday.
No Pura Vida without Keylor
Costa Rica enters the match with a huge handicap - the loss of top keeper Keylor Navas.
According to reports, Navas has an Achilles heel injury. "Navas has been managing this same injury for a year, and it has not responded to multiple treatments he has received, so that Real Madrid will decide how to resolve it definitively. From the federation we wish Keylor a swift recovery, and hope to have him back for our next friendly games," said a statement according to ESPN.
The Real Madrid superstar had a year to remember, leading Los Blancos to the Champions League title after putting up record numbers for his club. He was, for large parts of the season, the best player on the team.
But Navas is not going to participate in this tournament, leaving Costa Rica with a huge void to fill in net. Navas of course was the also the hero in 2014 when he led Costa Rica all the way to the World Cup quarterfinals before losing against the Netherlands in the penalty shootout. Prior to that he had defeated Greece in a shootout and was also able to contain a group that included Uruguay, Italy and England to just one goal in three matches.
In other words, he is the team's best player and the one capable of stealing games on his own.
But the team will be without its star and this could pose an issue in a tough group that includes the US, Colombia and Paraguay.
Paraguay looks for 2015 Repeat
The Paraguayans made it to the final four in the 2015 Copa America and are looking for a similar display this time around. A strong defensive output was the team's salvo last summer until a solid Argentina team completely unpacked an overly aggressive attack. Paraguay will undoubtedly revert to a stingier style that helped it overcome Brazil in last year's quarterfinals.
Prediction
Paraguay wins 1-0.
Schedule and streaming info
The game starts at 5 p.m. EDT and will be featured on FuboTV and Fox Sports 1. Univision will also stream the game for Spanish-speaking audiences.
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