Colombia vs. Costa Rica Live Stream, Preview, Predictions: How to Catch James Rodriguez & Company's Final Copa America Tune Up
Colombia and Costa Rica will face off in an international friendly that will test both sides.
For Colombia, the game is a final tuneup game before it opens against Venezuela in the Copa America on June 14.
The Colombia side has won six straight since losing two against Brazil in the World Cup quarterfinals last summer and an ensuing friendly. During that run, the Cafeteros have dominated such teams El Salvador, Kuwait and Bahrain; the team put up a 6-0 win over Bahrain back in March. It's toughest win in that run was a 2-1 victory over the United States, a game in which Colombia bossed possession and embarrassed the U.S. throughout.
Colombia is seen as a heavy favorite to contend in this summer's Copa America, but there are a few question marks hovering over the team, none more concerning than which player starts up top.
Coach Jose Pekerman has rotated his strikers in recent friendlies with Radamel Falcao, Carlos Bacca, Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez getting prominent minutes as the starters.
In that run, Falcao has managed four goals, Bacca has five and Gutierrez has one. Martinez has not scored and it is likely that he is left on the bench to start.
It is likely that the manager opts for a formation that utilizes Falcao and Bacca up front; he has tried with different variants including a 4-3-3 in which Bacca plays on the wing and Falcao becomes the target man in the middle. There have also been attempts at a 4-4-2 with Falcao sitting up front with another striker.
It will be interesting to see how Pekerman plays his card.
Costa Rica might prove to be the most competitive opponent Colombia faces in recent months. The team will be fully stocked with many of the nation's top stars in the lineup.
Prediction: Colombia wins 2-1.
The game will be broadcast on BeinSports en Espanol at 5:15 p.m. The game will be available for live stream for beIN Sports subscribers via beIN Sports Connect.
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