England v Costa Rica (International friendly): odds and bets 10.06.2026

This friendly is less friendly than it seems: England are using it as their final serious test before their World Cup debut, whilst Costa Rica see it as a benchmark to gauge their new approach. It will be played at a neutral venue, in Orlando, on 10 June 2026.

For me, in this sort of match, the context matters more than the names: England tend to rotate their squad, but they compete just as well because they have a much more complete squad, whilst Costa Rica usually try to hold their own through organisation and hard work. Furthermore, the recent history between the two sides is short but offers some clues: 0-0 at the 2014 World Cup and 2-0 to England in a 2018 friendly.

England

England arrive in better spirits. I don’t expect a starting eleven identical to the one that will feature at the World Cup, but I do expect longer spells on the pitch for several first-team regulars and, above all, a serious approach when not in possession. These matches serve more to define roles and set-piece routines (who breaks down the flanks, who receives the ball between the lines, who takes the set-pieces) than to experiment.

My tactical reading is clear: England should carry the weight of the game, dominate territory and create chances down the flanks, with crosses and second-ball situations, rather than through long periods of possession. And when they step up the pace for five or ten minutes, they usually break the deadlock: an isolated move, a set-piece or a forced error from the opposition.

If the match stays 0-0 for a while, I wouldn’t be surprised, because in friendlies the favourites sometimes take their foot off the gas. But if England score the first goal, the game usually opens up and that’s when their superiority really shows.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica are in the midst of a generational change and have a fairly specific objective: to compete without losing their shape, improve their defensive mechanisms and withstand periods of pressure from the opposition. Their plan is usually clear: a deep-lying midfield block, plenty of support on the flanks, and breaking forward whenever possible with quick transitions.

There are two factors that, for me, carry significant weight when it comes to betting. The first: their recent form doesn’t suggest stability, and when a team is in that state, conceding a single goal completely changes the script. The second: without a standout ‘goalkeeper factor’ as in previous eras, the margin for resistance is reduced, because against top-tier sides you need your goalkeeper to win the match for you during several spells.

In attack, they may have moments of clean build-up if England don’t press with maximum intensity, but if they’re pressed high up the pitch, they’ll struggle to string passes together and you could see them lose possession in dangerous areas. And if the game breaks up, they’ll struggle because they don’t have the same pace and quality to track back.