Two sides who had very contrasting opening games in Group E, as Japan shocked 2014 World Cup champions Germany 2-1 while Costa Rica shipped seven goals as Spain thrashed them 7-0.
On paper, this game seems like an almost forgone conclusion, however, as we have seen already in this World Cup, anything can happen.
Japan defeat of Germany was perhaps their greatest ever international result and a win against Costa Rica would likely assure their progression to the knockout stages, with a game in hand ahead of playing contenders Spain.
Costa Rica meanwhile have a mountain to climb should they even stand a chance at progression, they would have to win both remaining games and, even then, their -7 goal difference is a major hinderance to making the last 16.
Japan predicted lineup | Gonda; Tomiyasu, Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Doan, Endo; Ito, Kamada, Kubo; Asano.
Costa Rice predicted lineup | Navas; Martinez, Calvo, Duarte, Oviedo; Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Bennette; Campbell, Contreras.
Prediction | Japan 1-0 Costa Rica
Jonathan Maze | GWFN
