WORLD CUP 2006
Costa Rica
Introduction
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In spite of this being Costa Rica’s third World Cup appearance (and second in a row), few people outside the country would expect much from the Ticos in Germany.
In Costa Rica, however, where hope springs eternal, fans believe their team will go through to the second round and that they can even topple the host country in the tournament’s opening match.
Costa Rica won their first ever finals game, 1-0 against Scotland at Italia 90, and to this day the country’s TV stations are fond of showing interviews with Scottish fans outside the stadium before the match, in which they make confident predictions for their team.
While defeating the Germans is likely to be much more difficult, the Costa Ricans don’t have to defeat them to make it through to the second round. After saying that the Ticos will beat Germany, most fans are quick to add that their real hope of reaching the last 16 is by trying to steal a point from the hosts and getting four points from their matches with Ecuador and Poland. Costa Rica’s best chance of a win would appear to be against Ecuador, the only team in the group the Ticos have beaten in the past. Of the three opponents, Ecuador have the style most similar to Costa Rica’s, and the Ticos have often fared better against such teams rather than big physical sides such as Germany and Poland
Colombian Francisco Maturana called Costa Rica the Brazil of Central America when he took over as coach in 1999. Of course, the Ticos are a long way short of the quality of the World Cup favourites, but their style of play is similar. Short, one-touch passing and dribbles are staples of the Costa Rican game, but unfortunately defensive lapses and poor goalkeeping are trademarks as well.
The current side are similar to their predecessors except up front. Paulo Wanchope may possess the requisite dribbling skills and flair expected from Costa Rican forwards, but he is also much larger and stronger than the norm. He is also a fine finisher, an attribute far too rare among his compatriots. Strike partner Alvaro Saborio is even more of an anomaly because not only is he big, strong, good in the air and a lethal finisher, but also his dribbling and ball skills leave a lot to be desired.
The 1990 Costa Rican side made it to the second round, and this is the benchmark the current team will be aiming for. However, the Ticos will have difficulty in accumulating enough points, and while their play should be entertaining, in all likelihood they will make a first round exit.
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