Spain vs Costa Rica World Cup lineups as Marco Asensio starts for La Roja in Qatar opener

David Lynch

Spain vs Costa Rica World Cup lineups as Marco Asensio starts for La Roja in Qatar opener image

Spain will be well aware of opponents Costa Rica's taste for a World Cup shock ahead of the sides contesting their opening Group E game on Wednesday.

Eight years ago, the Costa Ricans beat Uruguay and Italy and drew with England to emerge from a group containing all three before going on to reach the quarterfinals.

With Germany and Japan also in their group this time, Spain can ill afford to fall victim to a similarly surprising result at Al Thumama Stadium.

Below are the projected lineups for both teams.

MORE: When is Spain vs Costa Rica at FIFA World Cup? Updated TV schedule, time, odds

Spain vs Costa Rica lineups

Luis Enrique has insisted he won't play favourites when it comes to selecting his lineup to face Costa Rica.

The 52-year-old is using training sessions as his guide before naming a team for Spain's opening game in Group E.

“I will only pick players who are fully fit and up to the intensity of training here”, he said.

“I still don’t have my 11 for Costa Rica, but I have a slight idea.”

Spain confirmed starting 11


Spain confirmed line up (4-3-3, right to left): 23. Simon (GK) — 2. Azpilicueta, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. F. Torres, 10. Asensio, 21. Olmo.

  • Injured: Guillamon
  • Suspended: none

Costa Rica confirmed starting 11

Costa Rica confirmed line up (5-4-1, right to left): 1. Navas (GK) — 16. Martinez, 15. Calvo, 6. Duarte, 4. Fuller, 8. Oviedo — 12. Campbell, 5. Borges, 17. Tejeda, 9. Bennette — 7. Contreras.

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Spain vs Costa Rica World Cup squads

Here are the 26 names on each team's squad lists at the World Cup in Qatar:

Spain

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK13David RayaBrentford (ENG)272
GK1Robert Sanchez Brighton (ENG)242
GK23Unai SimonAthletic Bilbao (SPA)2527
DEF18Jordi Alba Barcelona (SPA)3387
DEF15Hugo GuillamonValencia (SPA)223
DEF2Cesar AzpilicuetaChelsea (ENG)3342
DEF20Dani Carvajal Real Madrid (SPA)3031
DEF3Eric GarciaBarcelona (SPA)2119
DEF14Alejandro BaldeBarcelona (SPA)190
DEF24Aymeric LaporteManchester City (ENG)2816
DEF4Pau TorresVillarreal (SPA)2522
MID5Sergio BusquetsBarcelona (SPA)36146
MID9GaviBarcelona (SPA)1813
MID8KokeAtletico Madrid (SPA)3068
MID6Marcos Llorente Atletico Madrid (SPA) 2717
MID26PedriBarcelona (SPA)1914
MID16RodriManchester City (ENG)2635
MID19Carlos SolerPSG (FRA)2512
FWD21Dani OlmoRB Leipzig (GER)2425
FWD10Marco AsensioReal Madrid (SPA)2630
FWD25Ansu FatiBarcelona (SPA)195
FWD7Alvaro Morata Atletico Madrid (SPA)2957
FWD17Yeremi PinoVillarreal (SPA)207
FWD11Ferran TorresBarcelona (SPA)2231
FWD12Nico WilliamsAthletic Bilbao (SPA)203
FWD22Pablo SarabiaParis Saint-Germain (FRA)3025

Costa Rica

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK18Esteban AlvaradoHerediano (CRC)3324
GK1Keylor NavasPSG (FRA)35107
GK23Patrick SequeiraCD Lugo (SPA)232
DEF15Francisco CalvoKonyaspor (TUR)3075
DEF6Oscar DuarteAl-Wehda (SAU)3370
DEF4Keysher FullerHerediano (CRC)2829
DEF16Carlos MartinezSan Carlos (CRC)235
DEF22Ronald MatarritaFC Cincinnati (USA)2852
DEF8Bryan OviedoReal Salt Lake (USA)3274
DEF3Juan Pablo VargasMillonarios (COL)2711
DEF19Kendall WastonSaprissa (CRC)3461
DEF2Daniel ChaconColorado Rapids (USA)218
MID20Brandon AguileraGuanacasteca (CRC)194
MID9Jewison BennetteSunderland (ENG)187
MID5Celso BorgesAlajuelense (CRC)34154
MID25Anthony HernandezPuntarenas (CRC)212
MID21Douglas LopezHerediano (CRC)242
MID10Bryan RuizAlajuelense (CRC)37144
MID14Youstin SalasSaprissa (CRC)263
MID17Yeltsin TejedaHerediano (CRC)3073
MID13Gerson TorresHerediano (CRC)2512
MID24Roan WilsonGrecia (CRC)202
MID26Alvaro ZamoraSaprissa (CRC)202
FWD12Joel CampbellClub Leon (MEX)30118
FWD7Anthony ContrerasHerediano (CRC)228
FWD11Johan VenegasAlajuelense (CRC)3380

David Lynch

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.