Costa Rica vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Here's our preview, including predicted lineups, for the World Cup clash between Costa Rica and Germany.
Having taken just one point from their first two games against Japan and Spain, Germany need three points against Costa Rica to keep their hopes of going through alive.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica are on three points after they bounced back from their 7-0 defeat against Spain with a 1-0 victory over Japan last time out.
Looking ahead to Thursday's game after the 1-1 draw with Spain, Germany coach Hansi Flick said:
"[Costa Rica] showed a great mentality. When you lose 7-0 and come back like that... That's a team that defends well and is in good condition, and maybe deserved the 1-0 against Japan.
"But that game still feels like a while away, we still need to let the dust settle on Spain and do our analysis. We’ll look to take forward what we did well, the players need to have the self-confidence to attack like they did in the end.
"We know that we have taken a big first step and we want to create the same conditions in the next match against Costa Rica to get through the next round.
How can Germany go through from the group stage?
If Spain beat Japan in the other game in the group, a win over Costa Rica will be enough to send Germany through to the knockout stages.
In the event of a draw between Spain and Japan, Germany need to win by two or more goals to ensure a better goal difference than the latter.
Should Japan win over Spain, Germany would have to better Spain's goal difference, which was boosted by La Roja's 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica on Matchday 1.
How will Germany line up against Costa Rica?
Germany coach Hansi Flick has some important personnel decisions to make, with Lukas Klostermann, Leroy Sané and Niclas Füllkrug all pushing to start after coming on from the bench against Spain.
Having failed to impress against Spain, Thilo Kehrer could be replaced by Klostermann at the right-back position, while Leroy Sané and Niclas Füllkrug are expected to start further forward at the expense of Thomas Müller and either Serge Gnabry or Leon Goretzka.
Left-back David Raum suffered a bruised rib during the Spain game, but should be fit to start, assistant coach Danny Röhl said on Monday.
Click here to see our predicted lineups for the game between Costa Rica and Germany.
