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

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 13 David Raya Brentford (ENG) 27 2
GK 1 Robert Sanchez  Brighton (ENG) 24 2
GK 23 Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 25 27
DEF 18 Jordi Alba  Barcelona (SPA) 33 87
DEF 15 Hugo Guillamon Valencia (SPA) 22 3
DEF 2 Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea (ENG) 33 42
DEF 20 Dani Carvajal  Real Madrid (SPA) 30 31
DEF 3 Eric Garcia Barcelona (SPA) 21 19
DEF 14 Alejandro Balde Barcelona (SPA) 19 0
DEF 24 Aymeric Laporte Manchester City (ENG) 28 16
DEF 4 Pau Torres Villarreal (SPA) 25 22
MID 5 Sergio Busquets Barcelona (SPA) 36 146
MID 9 Gavi Barcelona (SPA) 18 13
MID 8 Koke Atletico Madrid (SPA) 30 68
MID 6 Marcos Llorente  Atletico Madrid (SPA)  27 17
MID 26 Pedri Barcelona (SPA) 19 14
MID 16 Rodri Manchester City (ENG) 26 35
MID 19 Carlos Soler PSG (FRA) 25 12
FWD 21 Dani Olmo RB Leipzig (GER) 24 25
FWD 10 Marco Asensio Real Madrid (SPA) 26 30
FWD 25 Ansu Fati Barcelona (SPA) 19 5
FWD 7 Alvaro Morata  Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 57
FWD 17 Yeremi Pino Villarreal (SPA) 20 7
FWD 11 Ferran Torres Barcelona (SPA) 22 31
FWD 12 Nico Williams Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 20 3
FWD 22 Pablo Sarabia Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 30 25

Costa Rica

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 18 Esteban Alvarado Herediano (CRC) 33 24
GK 1 Keylor Navas PSG (FRA) 35 107
GK 23 Patrick Sequeira CD Lugo (SPA) 23 2
DEF 15 Francisco Calvo Konyaspor (TUR) 30 75
DEF 6 Oscar Duarte Al-Wehda (SAU) 33 70
DEF 4 Keysher Fuller Herediano (CRC) 28 29
DEF 16 Carlos Martinez San Carlos (CRC) 23 5
DEF 22 Ronald Matarrita FC Cincinnati (USA) 28 52
DEF 8 Bryan Oviedo Real Salt Lake (USA) 32 74
DEF 3 Juan Pablo Vargas Millonarios (COL) 27 11
DEF 19 Kendall Waston Saprissa (CRC) 34 61
DEF 2 Daniel Chacon Colorado Rapids (USA) 21 8
MID 20 Brandon Aguilera Guanacasteca (CRC) 19 4
MID 9 Jewison Bennette Sunderland (ENG) 18 7
MID 5 Celso Borges Alajuelense (CRC) 34 154
MID 25 Anthony Hernandez Puntarenas (CRC) 21 2
MID 21 Douglas Lopez Herediano (CRC) 24 2
MID 10 Bryan Ruiz Alajuelense (CRC) 37 144
MID 14 Youstin Salas Saprissa (CRC) 26 3
MID 17 Yeltsin Tejeda Herediano (CRC) 30 73
MID 13 Gerson Torres Herediano (CRC) 25 12
MID 24 Roan Wilson Grecia (CRC) 20 2
MID 26 Alvaro Zamora Saprissa (CRC) 20 2
FWD 12 Joel Campbell Club Leon (MEX) 30 118
FWD 7 Anthony Contreras Herediano (CRC) 22 8
FWD 11 Johan Venegas Alajuelense (CRC) 33 80

David Lynch

David Lynch Photo

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.