Group A

Schedule:  Paraguay (6/4 Camping World Stadium, Orlando), United States (6/7 Soldier Field, Chicago), and Colombia (6/11 NRG Stadium, Houston)

Head Coach: Oscar Ramirez

Best previous finish in Copa America: Quarter finals (2001 and 2004)

Players to keep an eye on:  DEF Cristian Gamboa (West Bromwich Albion), MID Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna,) and FWD Joel Campbell (Arsenal)

Outlook:  Can we still call Costa Rica a dark horse? After their spectacular run in the 2014 World Cup it almost seems like it is a bit of a knock to call the Ticas a team that might catch other sides off guard. Still given that they are in a group with the United States and Colombia it appears that this is the case.

That being said, any club that underestimates the Ticas will regret it. Coach Oscar Ramirez has built off of the core players that made that memorable World Cup run and infused a bit more balance. Midfielder Celso Borges and Christian Bolanos have formed quite possibly the best midfield duo in all of CONCACAF and have helped take the pressure off of Johan Venegas (Montreal Impact).

Up top Ramirez will likely go with Joel Campbell (Arsenal) and Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Lisbon) up top. Campbell finally cracked the Arsenal roster this season and Ruiz is coming off of a splendid campaign with Sporting. Although he has not had the best time this season coming off of the bench for D.C. United, look for Alvaro Saborio to be used primarily as a super-sub late in matches particularly against the United States.

The big question for this side is can they live up to the hype? Despite entering the Gold Cup a heavy favorites last year the team struggled against Jamaica, El Salvador, and Canada three relative minnows in international football (Although Jamaica it should be noted had a tremendous run in the tournament). 

Losing goalkeeper Keylor Navas prior to the tournament did not help the Ticas and it certainly will not benefit them in this tournament. The Real Madrid netminder bowed out of the tournament this week due to an Achilles Tendon injury. Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez will likely turn to Danny Carvajal. Carvajal, who features for Saprissa in the Costa Rican Primera Division, has been a Costa Rican international dating back to the 2011 Copa America. But he really has yet to make an impact and this year’s tournament may be his last chance.

Another trap game awaits them in match-day one of this tournament in Paraguay. If Costa Rica cannot get three points in that match it will fundamentally alter their chances in this group.

Did you know? Costa Rica is the only country in the world not to have a standing military.