|
Costa Rica
Costa Rica may have cruised through the CONCACAF qualifying section, but they will soon find out that life is tough on football's biggest stage.
Back in 1990, under Bora Milutinovic, Costa Rica became the first Central American country to advance past the first round, but the chances of that happening are slim with an aging team sure to struggle throughout the event.
CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto has taken a close look at all of the nations that contending for football's greatest prize in South Korea and Japan.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
 |
Curiously, manager Alexandre Guimaraes was a player under Bora at the 1990 World Cup, so he knows what the nation needs to do in order to advance into the second round. But whether he will have the means to do so is a completely different story. The team's back line is far from impressive with its players having little or no international experience at club level. In midfield there is more talent, with Ronald Gomez and Wilmer Lopez possessing decent skill and playmaking abilities. Up front is where the Costa Ricans are stronger: Paulo Wanchope and Rolando Fonseca form a dangerous duo.
|
 |
| |
 |
|
Wanchope. With no doubt the team's most experienced and talented player. The Manchester City forward scored four goals in qualifying and is expected to lead the charge in attack again. He has had some injury problems in the recent past, but needs to be in top form for this team to do any kind of damage.
|
|
 |
|
Defense. Costa Rica played with only three defenders in qualifying, and although it conceded only seven goals in 10 games, it could be in for a nasty surprise at the World Cup. Neither Reynaldo Parks, Luis Marin nor Gilberto Martinez have any kind of relevant international experience, and the trio may well have been good enough to stop teams like Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago in qualifiers, but will struggle to contain some of the game's best strikers.
|
|
 |
|
| |
Hernan Medford. He suffered a serious knee injury that required surgery but still wants to play at the World Cup. The 34-year-old is the sole survivor of the team that played in Costa Rica's only previous World Cup appearance in 1990 and is willing to put the remainder of his career on the line to play at his second tournament. He is a leader on and off the pitch, and if fit could help the team to a solid showing.
|
 |
|
Costa Rica finished first in the final phase of CONCACAF qualifying, ahead of Mexico and the United States. It won seven, drew two and lost one of its 10 games, scoring 17 goals and conceding seven.
|
|
| |
The Costa Ricans are making their second World Cup appearance. In their first, back in 1990, they managed to finish 13th, making the second round under Bora Milutinovic.
|
 |
|
This team does not have enough quality to make the second round and will be lucky to win one game. The Costa Ricans may have won seven out of 10 qualifiers, but were lucky with the schedule, beating Mexico before the Javier Aguirre era and defeating the United States when Bruce Arena's side was clearly out of form. Fonseca and Wanchope are the only players who can make a difference, and the two cannot row against the current alone.
|
How far will Costa Rica go in the World Cup? View Instant Poll Results
|
|
