The United States and Costa Rica are both through to the quarterfinals of Gold Cup and unlikely to be joined by either of their group mates, but this game matters to both teams. Both will be favored in their quarterfinal, but the group winner is likely to face Martinique, while the second-placed team will face a difficult test against Honduras.
USA vs. Costa Rica, 2013 Gold Cup: Preview and TV schedule
The United States only needs a draw to win Group C and set up a likely quarterfinal match against Martinique. Costa Rica are already in the quarterfinal, but would like to avoid El Salvador.
Costa Rica trails the U.S. on goal differential, so they have to win to take the group, while the United States only needs a draw. No matter the final result, the winner of Group C will be the best-placed group winner.
Jurgen Klinsmann has opted to look at a number of different players so far in the tournament and his team’s pre-tournament warm-up against Guatemala. He says he’ll play his best team against Costa Rica on Tuesday night, so expect his selection of players to be the ones he picks going forward into the knockout stages if they achieve a positive result against the Ticos.
Costa Rica has practiced a similar policy, though they've done it just as much due to fitness concerns as they have to get a look at a variety of players. Alvaro Saborio, in particular, has been nursing an injury. He played 89 minutes against Belize, however, and should be completely fit for Tuesday night's game.
Time: 8 p.m.
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
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