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Costa Rica Team Page

Squad

Coach: Geovanny Alfaro

Roster:

Goalkeepers: Esteban Alvarado, Francisco Gomez, Alfonso Quesada

Defenders: Rudy Dawson, Pablo Herrera, Brayan Jimenez, Dave Myrie, Leslie Ramos, Kendall Waston

Midfielders: Celso Borges, Jose Cubero, Ricardo Garcia, Orlando Gonzalez, Luis Perez, Esteban Rodriguez

Forwards: Marlon Camble, Cesar Elizondo, Argenis Fernandez, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Jonathan McDonald, Jean Solorzano

Scouting Report

Strengths: Team chemistry won't be a problem for Costa Rica, as the bulk of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup make up the country's roster for this summer's tournament in Canada. In Alfonso Quesada, Costa Rica has one of the best goalkeepers of the tournament, and Jean Carlos Solorzano gives the team a serious scoring threat up front.

Weaknesses: Other than Solorzano, Costa Rica doesn't have a real scoring threat. Also, coach Geovanny Alfaro's team has a bad habit of making life more difficult for themselves. In the CONCACAF qualifiers, for example, Costa Rica struggled to beat lightweights Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis. Costa Rica plays with a lot of flash and flair, but can be easily shut down by teams who mark them closely and play physically in midfield.

Player to watch: Jean Carlos Solorzano has explosive pace and lethal long-range shooting ability. The dangerous forward was a key member of the Costa Rican team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.

Prognosis: Costa Rica will be one of the more exciting teams to watch. Los Ticos play a fast-paced and entertaining brand of soccer. After failing to qualify for the last two tournaments, expect Costa Rica to make some noise this time around, especially after many on the roster were part of the national team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 U-17 World Cup. Costa Rica's group is pretty balanced, and it should have little trouble making it out of the first round. Los Ticos will challenge Nigeria for first place in the group, and it would hardly be a surprise if they reached the quarter-finals.

ROAD TO THE U-20 WORLD CUP

2007 qualification route: Costa is on the road to Canada after finishing second in Group B of the CONCACAF U-20 Tournament.

Qualifying record: 5 games played, 3 win, 0 losses, 2 draws

Goals for: 15 Goals against: 6

Top goal-scorer in qualifying: Jean Carlos Solorzano (5)

Qualifying results:

2007 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament – Central American Zone triangular 2 final in Comayagua, Honduras

Aug. 11, 2006 – Nicaragua 1, Costa Rica 7

Aug. 13, 2006 – Honduras 2, Costa Rica 2

2007 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament group round (Group B) in Culiacán, Mexico

Feb. 21, 2007 – Jamaica 0, Costa Rica 2

Feb. 23, 2007 – Costa Rica 3, St. Kitts and Nevis 2

Feb. 25, 2007 – Mexico 1, Costa Rica 1

U-20 World Cup 1st round matches (all times local)

July 1 vs. Nigeria in Victoria (Royal Athletic Park) at 17:00

July 4 vs. Japan in Victoria (Royal Athletic Park) at 17:00

July 7 vs. Scotland in Burnaby (Swangard Stadium) at 17:00

U-20 WORLD CUP HISTORY

Costa Rica's best showing at the U-20 World Cup came in 2001 and 1999 when it reached the second round. The Central American nation missed qualifying for the last two tournaments, but had a good run of appearances in the late 1990s, qualifying for four straight between 1995 and 2001.

Number of previous U-20 World Cup Appearances: 5

All-time record: 17 games played, 6 wins, 2 draws, 9 losses

Goals for: 16 Goals against: 25

Biggest victory: 3-1 vs. Netherlands in 2001, 3-1 vs. Ethiopia in 2001

Biggest defeat: 2-6 vs. Japan in 1997, 0-4 vs. Spain in 2001

Hosted the U-20 World Cup: never

1977 to 1987 – Did not qualify

1989 – First round

1991 – Did not qualify

1993 – Did not qualify

1995 – First round

1997 – First round