Costa Rica prepare strong team
COSTA Rica will field a full-strength squad against Bafana Bafana as they use the friendly international to prepare for their soccer World Cup qualifiers next month.
COSTA Rica will field a full strength squad against SA in the town of Liberia this week as they use the friendly international to prepare for their World Cup qualifiers next month.
Their intentions mirror those of Bafana Bafana, who are using their trip to central America, which also includes a friendly against Honduras, to prepare for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Angola.
Costa Rica, who also have a friendly against the US away in New York next Tuesday, have 12 Europe-based players in their 23-man squad. The match will mark the return of Bryan Oviedo, the injury-blighted Everton leftback.
Costa Rica host Shakes Mashaba’s team at the Estadio Baltodano Bricenio tomorrow night local time (4am on Friday morning in SA).
Coach Oscar Ramirez said he had shifted a few players in and out of the squad after last month’s 1-0 win over Uruguay.
“I’m looking for some pointers from some of the players that can help for the World Cup,” he said this week.
Costa Rica begin their bid to qualify for Russia 2018 in Group B of the Concacaf zone and play Haiti and Panama in their first two matches next month.
They also have Jamaica in their group. At the last World Cup in Brazil, Costa Rica reached the quarterfinals, only to be eliminated on penalties by the Netherlands.
On Tuesday, Bafana Bafana will be in San Pedro Sula to take on Honduras at the Estadio Metropolitano Stadium (kick -off at midnight SA time).
Honduras have also named a 23-man squad and play another friendly against Guatemala in Tegucigalpa tomorrow.
Their coach, Jorge Luis Pinto, is also using the Bafana match as a World Cup warm-up when they start the road to the finals in Russia against Canada in Vancouver on November 13.
COSTA RICA SQUAD Goalkeepers: Esteban Alvarado (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Keylor Navas (Real Madrid, Spain), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Defenders: Francisco Calvo (Saprissa), Junior Díaz (SV Darmstadt 98, Germany), Óscar Duarte (Club Brugge, Belgium), Cristian Gamboa (West Bromwich Albion, England), Bryan Oviedo (Everton, England), Giancarlo González (Palermo, Italy). Midfieders: Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense), Elías Aguilar (Herediano), Celso Borges (Deportivo la Coruna, Spain), Esteban Granados (Herediano), David Guzmán (Saprissa), Dave Myrie (Herediano), Bryan Ruíz (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Yeltsin Tejeda (Evian Thonon Gaillard, France), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada) Forwards: Joel Campbell (Arsenal, England), Daniel Colindres (Saprissa), Marco Ureña (FC Midtjylland, Denmark), Deyver Vega (Saprissa), Johan Venegas (Montreal Impact, Canada). HONDURAS SQUAD Goalkeepers: Donis Escober, Noel Valladares (both Olimpia) Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa, Mexico), Wilmer Crisanto (Motagua), Maynor Figueroa (Colorado Rapids, USA), Emilio Izaguirre (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Johnny Leverón (Correcaminos, Mexico), César Oseguera (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), José Velásquez (Colon Victoria). Midfielders: Erick Andino (Motagua), Carlos Discua (Alajuelense, Costa Rica), Boniek García, Luis Garrido (both Houston Dynamo, USA), Alfredo Mejía (Panthrakikos, Greece), Mario Martínez (ENPPI, Egypt), Bayron Méndez, Oliver Morazán (both Olimpia) Forwards: Jerry Bengtson (Persepolis, Iran), Rubilio Castillo (Correcaminos, Mexico), Anthony Lozano (Tenerife, Spain), Jonathan Mejía (Albacete, Spain), Ángel Tejeda (Honduras Progreso).