England Face Costa Rica in World Cup Dress Rehearsal

England head to the Inter&Co Stadium on Wednesday, June 10 to face Costa Rica in their final warm-up fixture before World Cup action proper begins. The Three Lions' summer campaign has started modestly—a 1-0 victory over New Zealand courtesy of Harry Kane's half-time header—though the display itself drew mixed reviews.

Manager Thomas Tuchel will demand a more convincing performance this time around, with an eye on the group stage opener against Croatia looming large. That fixture, alongside encounters with Ghana and Panama, marks the point where friendly results matter considerably less than competitive ones.

The Arsenal Contingent Arrives

Four Arsenal players—Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke—sat out the New Zealand match after receiving additional rest following the Champions League final. They've since linked up with the England camp in Florida, though their involvement against Costa Rica remains uncertain.

Tuchel's approach against New Zealand saw him rotate his entire squad at half-time, a tactic that allowed various players valuable minutes. He's signalled that longer spells on the pitch await several performers this time, with the starting eleven expected to resemble his intended Croatia lineup more closely.

Jude Bellingham, Reece James, Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson all caught the eye during the second half in Florida and will be pushing hard for inclusion.

Costa Rica's Disrupted Preparations

The visitors aren't competing in this summer's tournament, making this their second friendly following a 3-1 defeat to Colombia. Their squad preparation has been disrupted by disciplinary matters: midfielder Alejandro Bran and forwards Kenneth Vargas and Warren Madrigal were originally selected for both friendlies but have been sent home by the Costa Rican federation.

The three players faced investigation into an alleged shooting incident in which Bran's vehicle was struck by bullets outside a bar, though all three denied involvement in any altercation. Additionally, legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas, 39, is absent as the coaching staff searches for a long-term successor.

Match Details and Odds

Kick-off comes at 9pm BST, with ITV1 providing live coverage from 8pm. BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will offer full radio commentary.

England are prohibitive 2/11 favourites, with Costa Rica priced at 18/1 and the draw at 15/2. Given England's superior personnel and competition schedule, backing them to win both halves sits at 6/5, whilst a clean sheet victory is available at 8/11.

Kane, the architect of victory over New Zealand, is 11/4 to score first again. Marcus Rashford, who netted in England's 2-0 win against Costa Rica in 2018, is 15/8 to find the net at any point.