The dynamic of this Costa Rica vs Haiti matchup hinges entirely on the pressure in the stadium. Haiti only needs to avoid a heavy defeat to advance, which means they can sit deep and absorb pressure without any urgency to chase the game. For a Costa Rica side that has to win to stay alive in the Nations League, this is exactly the kind of setup that can trap them into overcommitting numbers forward.
When Costa Rica pushes their defensive line higher to sustain attacking possession, they are going to leave massive spaces behind for Haiti’s rapid transition play. If they don't set up a rigid rest-defense structure to handle those counter-attacks, Costa Rica could easily get caught out while desperately hunting for a breakthrough.
