Japan v Costa Rica predictions: Key man Kamada can sparkle for Samurai Blue

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Japan v Costa Rica in World Cup Group E on Sunday.

Where to watch

ITV, 10am Sunday

Best bet

Daichi Kamada to be first goalscorer
1pt 13-2 Betfair, Paddy Power

Japan's star man scored in his last three Champions League appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt before the World Cup and has the class to unlock a Costa Rica defence reeling from their 7-0 loss to Spain.

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Match preview

Costa Rica may have hoped their matchday-two fixture against Japan would provide some respite between Group E clashes with Spain and Germany.

The surprise 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists were thrashed 7-0 by ruthless Spain on Wednesday and now face a Japan side buoyed by their shock victory over Germany.

Los Ticos kicked off the tournament as 1,000-1 outsiders for the trophy and are as big as 7-1, from around 4-1 before the first round of group matches, to burst Japan's bubble in Al Rayyan.

Costa Rica famously topped a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup but their hopes of causing an upset against Spain were swiftly dispelled.

La Roja's front three Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio and Ferran Torres each helped themselves to a goal inside the first 31 minutes as Los Ticos failed to register a shot and were restricted to 18 per cent of possession.

Japan also fell behind in the first half of their clash with Germany and needed a string of fine saves from goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda to keep them in the game. But their bold approach was rewarded with late goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano.

The depth of the Japanese squad should give them an edge over an ageing Costa Rica unit. As well as goalscorers Doan and Asano, coach Hajime Moriyasu was able to send on Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino and Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.

Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker Daichi Kamada poses the major threat to Costa Rica, however, and he looks a decent price to open the scoring for Japan.

Kamada helped his club win last season's Europa League and made a blistering start to the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign, scoring seven goals and claiming three assists in 13 league appearances.

He also scored in each of his last three Champions League group games, breaking the deadlock against Tottenham and Marseille before converting a second-half penalty in the win over Sporting.

Kamada looks a cut above any of Costa Rica's attacking players and he can help Japan take another big step towards the last 16.

Key stat

Daichi Kamada has scored ten goals in 17 Bundesliga and Champions League starts this season.

Team news

Japan
Goalscoring substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano are pushing for starts after their heroics against Germany. Monaco forward Takumi Minamino may have to settle for a place on the bench again and Hiroki Sakai is a doubt.

Costa Rica
Los Ticos have no reported injury problems as they bid to bounce back from a 7-0 loss to Spain.

Probable teams

Japan (4-2-3-1) Gonda; Tomiyasu, Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Morita, Shibasaki; Ito, Kamada, Kubo; Asano

Costa Rica (4-4-2) Navas; Martinez, Calvo, Duarte, Oviedo; Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Bennette; Campbell, Contreras

Inside info

Japan

Top scorer in probable team Junya Ito
Star player Daichi Kamada
Penalty taker Daichi Kamada
Assist ace Daichi Kamada
Set-piece aerial threat Maya Yoshida
Card magnet Yuto Nagatomo

Costa Rica

Top scorer in probable team Joel Campbell
Star player Keylor Navas
Penalty taker Celso Borges
Assist ace Joel Campbell
Set-piece aerial threat Oscar Duarte
Card magnet Keysher Fuller

Japan v Costa Rica Bet Builder

Japan to win Costa Rica may struggle to bounce back from a 7-0 opening defeat to Spain
Francisco Calvo to be shown a card The centre-back made five tackles and picked up a booking against La Roja
Daichi Kamada to score or assist a goal The playmaker has been in influential form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season

Price guide 6-1 with Paddy Power