The expanded field at the World Cup has provided a ton of opportunities for first-time teams to get a taste of the biggest competition of the world.
That's how both of Tuesday's competitors, Spain and Costa Rica made it into the field in Canada.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Ticas are in a lot of trouble in this match, as you would expect from a CONCACAF nation outside of the United States and Canada. Costa Rica is a two-goal underdog in this game on the Asian handicap, and Spain is a -515 choice of the oddsmakers to take all three points.
The total is relatively high at 3.5 (under -127) in this match, though a lot of that is a product of what is believed to be an easy go of it for the Spanish attack, which is quietly one of the best here in this tournament.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"She is a player who has developed and grown a lot, but virtue of having left the country. She has grown up as a person and as a player, and she has become a real reference point." – Spanish head coach Ignacio Quereda on Veronica Boquete, La Roja's top attacking option and most notable player.
RECENT FORM
Believe it or not, Spain hasn't been beaten in a match competitively since January 2014, going 7-4-0 since that point. Granted, the real probably has stemmed from the fact that it hasn't played all that much in the way of competition either. Beating up on Macedonia and Estonia isn't exactly the way that you need to prepare against the elite competition in the world, though it should be noted that the club has been on level terms against a comparable New Zealand team in recent months, drawing 2-2 and 0-0 in matches played in March.
Costa Rica is carrying a lot of momentum right now nationally. Las Ticas won four of their five matches at the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, losing just to the United States, albeit 6-0 in the final. The Costa Ricans though, were beaten by Mexico in their last warm-up match for this tournament before their sendoff to Canada.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Early on in this tournament, we have seen a lot of sloppy play, but the first match here in Group E could be a technically sound one. Costa Rica is very strong with the ball, especially when it is moving through Shirley Cruz in the midfield.
The Spanish defense is a weak one for sure, and that could end up opening things up at the back if Cruz comes forward with Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno and Carolina Venegas, who combined for seven goals in qualification for this tournament.
Spain though, has the better side by a good margin. Boquete is going to be the best player on the pitch in this matchup, and she is going to have three fellow attack-minded players out there with her in the form of Natalia Pablos, Sonia Bermudez and Jennifer Hermoso.
Expect to see Costa Rica's goalie, Dinnia Diaz put under a lot of pressure in this match from the get go. Perhaps Las Ticas can swipe a goal in this one somewhere along the way, but this isn't going to be a pretty match for the North American debutants. The over could be the better of the two plays in what could be an up and down match.
Spain 4, Costa Rica 1
BookMaker has women's World Cup lines for every match of the season. Spain is lined as a -515 moneyline favorite, while the total is set at 3.5 (under -137). You can make a futures bet and predict the champion, wager on head-to-head matchups or use BookMaker’s live betting feature to gamble while the match is happening.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The fixture between Spain and Costa Rica is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. ET at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
