* Costa Rica coach Ricardo La Volpe is a former Argentina international who won the 1978 World Cup as a reserve goalkeeper.
* The Tricolor drew 2-2 with China in their last friendly international encounter last week.
* Costa Rica’s previous game too had ended in a 2-2 draw. It was against South American opposition Venezuela.
* Argentina have suffered defeat just once since Sergio Batista took over - to Asian powerhouse Japan.
* Apart from that defeat and last week’s 1-1 draw with the USA, the South American giants have won all their games under their new manager, including those against Spain, Brazil and Portugal.
* 11 of the 24 players included in the current squad by Batista are 24 years of age or under.
LAST MEETING
January 27, 2010: Argentina 3-2 Costa Rica
Jose Sosa gave Argentina the lead after just 12 minutes but eight minutes later Michael Barrantes restored parity for Costa Rica. Giullermo Burdisso put the former world champions into the lead before the break, and although Diego Madrigal equalised on 76 minutes, moments later Franco Zara found the target to win the match 3-2 for his side.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Costa Rica: Navas; Mora, Umana, G. Martinez, Marshall; Oviedo, Borges, Bolanos, Barrantes; Ruiz, Saborio
Argentina: Andujar; Angeleri, Garay, Fazio, Rojo; Banega, Mascherano, Biglia; Gaitan, Messi, Pastore
Prediction
Just like the USA last week, Costa Rica will be up for a good and competitive game and will push Argentina hard. However, it is likely that the South Americans will emerge victorious in this encounter.
Costa Rica 0-2 Argentina 
