Costa Rica
Squad is older and struggling at club level
With the notable exception of Keylor Navas, the team’s big stars come off the back of disappointing seasons in Europe, while the rest of the squad is essentially the same, only four years older
After shocking the world four years ago, Costa Rica are hoping for a repeat this time around – but circumstances are different this time. While it’s true that the draw seems kinder, as Switzerland and Serbia in 2018 look less mighty on paper than Italy, England and Uruguay in 2014, the Ticos don’t seem to be arriving in the same form as they did to Brazil.
In 2014, a young, hungry generation seemed to be at its cusp, ready to dismiss the critics that wrote them off even before the ball started rolling. Four years later, with the notable exception of Keylor Navas, the team’s big stars come off the back of disappointing seasons in Europe, while the rest of the squad is essentially the same, only four years older.
Also, they haven’t been exactly setting the world alight in the recent friendly matches, with a 1-0 victory over Scotland and a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia, where the team looked devoid of attacking ideas and lacking imagination in general.
However, given the talent at their disposal, it would be unwise to write them off completely. Bryan Ruiz has barely played for Sporting in Portugal this season, but his creativity and clever first touch are still there. Joel Campbell has spent most of the season injured but he’s still as powerful and explosive as usual. Celso Borges was relegated from La Liga with Deportivo La Coruna but still anchors midfield. And Navas remains one of the finest keepers in the world.
But the stars have to align for them to be able to play at their best in order for the team to actually dream about a repeat of the 2014 heroics. Even if that doesn’t happen they definitely won’t be pushovers; most of the squad have been playing together for almost eight years and that cohesion and experience should show on the pitch – but the talent might be found lacking this time around.
If that happens, it would be up to coach Oscar Ramirez to try to make the most of the team and make the sum tougher than its parts.
But if the team’s displays in the qualifiers and the run-up for the World Cup are to be taken as a reference, it seems that the best generation in the history of the country won’t be able to bow out with a swansong.
Martin Del Palacio Langer