Costa Rica halfway into month-long build-up
While the All Whites have started to assemble in Spain this week, the Central American side have been in a training camp in San Jose since May 15.
It was logistically much easier for the Concacaf representatives, as the majority of their team have been selected from the domestic competition. Of the 27-man squad called up by coach Luis Fernando Suarez, 22 play for Costa Rican clubs, with three others based in the United States, Mexico and Colombia.
FC Copenhagen defender Bryan Oviedo was second-to-last to arrive, joining the squad on Wednesday.
Costa Rica have Nations League games against Panama ( June 2) and Martinique ( June 5) before they head to the Middle East, where star Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas will link with the team.
The New Zealand side had their first session on Tuesday, with players arriving gradually from clubs around the world. There are currently 15 All Whites at their camp in Spain, with the full contingent of 26 to be there from Monday, when the official Fifa window begins.
Playoff tickets on sale
On Thursday, Fifa released ticketing details for the New Zealand v Costa Rica match on June 15 (NZT), along with the clash between Peru and either Australia or the United Arab Emirates the day before. If you’re in Doha, attending the matches will be cheap, with seats in the grandstand priced from 30 Qatar Riyals ($12.70). Around 2000 Costa Rican fans are expected to make the trip.
All Whites at dream venue
The All Whites couldn’t have picked a better spot for their preparation camp in Spain, with their Marbella football resort popular with top European clubs and national teams. Located in sun-soaked Andalucia, the Dama de Noche facility is one of five such centres around Marbella, which has seen a boom in sports tourism since 2005. Borussia Dortmund and West Ham are two of several European outfits that are regular visitors in the off-season.
Expectations high in Costa Rica
Veteran Costa Rican forward Marco Urena admits there is a huge sense of anticipation in the Central American nation, as the countdown begins to the intercontinental playoff in June.
Urena has been a mainstay of the team over the past decade — winning 67 caps — though missed the cut for the latest squad, after not being involved in the World Cup qualifying campaign, partly due to Covid issues making it difficult to select players based outside the Americas.
Urena, who featured in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and plays for the Central Coast Mariners, says the excitement is building in Costa Rica.
“There is a big hope,” Urena told the Weekend Herald. “You can see it, you can feel it, the people are really excited. They feel like they can make it. It’s not the same feeling as, say, in 2010, when [Costa Rica] played Uruguay; it’s tough to play against South American teams. The Costa Rican people don’t know much about the football in New Zealand. So they think it’s a great opportunity. But New Zealand is a tricky team. I can see it’s not going to be easy.”