| Player | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Wardy Alfaro | Goalkeeper | LD Alajuelense |
| Alvaro Mesen | Goalkeeper | CS Herediano |
| Jose Porras | Goalkeeper | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Gabriel Badilla | Defender | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Jervis Drummond | Defender | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Leonardo Gonzalez | Defender | CS Herediano |
| Luis Marin | Defender | LD Alajuelense |
| Gilberto Martinez | Defender | Brescia (Italy) |
| Michael Rodriguez | Defender | LD Alajuelense |
| Michael Umana | Defender | Brujas |
| Harold Wallace | Defender | LD Alajuelense |
| Randall Azofeifa | Midfielder | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Cristian Bolanos | Midfielder | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Walter Centeno | Midfielder | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Daniel Fonseca | Midfielder | CS Cartagines |
| Carlos Hernandez | Midfielder | LD Alajuelense |
| Douglas Sequeira | Midfielder | Real Salt Lake (United States) |
| Mauricio Solis | Midfielder | Comunicaciones (Guatemala) |
| Kurt Bernard | Forward | Puntarenas |
| Ronald Gomez | Forward | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Victor Nunez | Forward | CS Cartagines |
| Alvaro Saborio | Forward | Deportivo Saprissa |
| Paulo Wanchope | Forward | Unattached |
| Head Coach: | Alexandre Guimaraes | |
Scouting Report
Style of play: Coach Alexandre Guimaraes has abandoned the attacking 3-5-2 formation he employed at the 2002 World Cup in favour of a more traditional 4-4-2 setup. Whereas the team used to always be thinking about attacking, it's now a little more conservative in its approach, and usually waits for an open opportunity before launching forward. Guimaraes preaches a disciplined and team-oriented game plan, although, at times, the Costa Ricans still turn on the flair. Instead of trying to press the issue by winning the battle in midfield - a battle it often loses - Costa Rica instead makes use of its speed via counter-attacks down the wings. Walter Centeno is the key man in midfield and will be relied upon to deliver quality service to the strikers. Up front, Ronald Gomez will take his chances in set-piece situations with his deadly left foot, while striker partner Paulo Wanchope will use his great strength to hold up the ball, fend off defenders and create his own space. If it needs a goal, Costa Rica will likely bring on a third forward, Alvaro Saborio, and drop Gomez in the hole behind the two strikers in a supporting role.
Probable starting formation (4-4-2): (GK) Jose Porras - (D) Gilberto Martinez, Luis Marin, Harold Wallace, Jervis Drummond - (M) Daniel Fonseca, Walter Centeno, Mauricio Solis, Cristian Bolanos - (F) Ronald Gomez, Paulo Wanchope
Strengths:
Going forward - Costa Rica is very quick moving forward in attack, and
is noted for its attacking flair. Midfield lynchpin Walter Centeno does a
wonderful job of linking up with forwards Paulo Wanchope and Ronald Gomez.
The other midfielders are comfortable in possession, always have an eye towards
goal, and can put pressure on opposing defenders.
Pace and speed - Teams that get into a comfortable rhythm against Costa
Rica should take caution. The Central American nation has plenty of speed
- especially, but certainly not limited to, up front - that it uses to launch
deadly counter-attacks. In a tight contest, Costa Rica has the ability turn
the game in its favour with its pace, particularly against an opponent with
lead-footed defenders.
Team leaders - Costa Rica has plenty of them. Captain Luis Marin leads
Costa Rica in all-time appearances (116 games) and offers a stabilizing presence
in defence, as does Gilberto Martinez. In midfield, Costa Rica can rely on
a host of experienced players, including Walter Centeno and Mauricio Solis,
and striker Paulo Wanchope has played in England and Spain at the top level.
Weaknesses:
Style over substance - Costa Rica can attack with great flair and produce
a brand of soccer that is entertaining to watch, but all too often it's at
the expense of leaving itself vulnerable in defence. The midfielders can't
always be focused on going forward, and need to drop back more often and lend
support to the defenders. Coach Alexandre Guimaraes has his team playing more
disciplined soccer, but sometimes his players play with reckless abandon.
Defending set pieces - Corner kicks and free kicks have proven to be
Costa Rica's Achilles heel in the past. Costa Rica's defenders lack aerial
ability, a problem that could be exposed by Germany's tall forwards. They
have also proven to be lax in their individual man-marking assignments on
dead ball situations, something they will have to improve on in Germany.
Tough draw - It's not exactly the "Group of Death," but Costa
Rica didn't receive any favours from FIFA when it made the group drawings
last December. Germany is expected to make an early statement with a victory
against Costa Rica in the tournament's opening game, while Poland and Ecuador
are emerging soccer powers with a point to prove. Costa Rica will have an
uphill battle.
Players to watch:
Paulo Wanchope - Costa Rica's all-time leading scorer, Wanchope is set
to retire from the national team after the World Cup. He is a gifted striker
who is slight of foot and is very agile, but he has been plagued by knee problems
the last few years. Stints in England (Derby County, West Ham and Manchester
City) and Spain (Malaga) that were far from successful leave him with a point
to prove in Germany.
Walter Centeno - The veteran midfielder has been a fixture on the national
team for the past 11 years for good reason. Centeno operates as the conductor
of Costa Rica's attack by pulling the creative strings from his position in
midfield. He can also score goals. Centeno is the heart and soul of the team
and without him at his best, Costa Rica stands no chance of advancing.
Gilberto Martinez - A talented defender who has made a bit of a name
for himself playing for Brescia in Serie B, Italy's second division. Martinez's
biggest asset is his versatility: he's able to line up anywhere in defence,
although his best position is at the centre of the back line. An experienced
and poised defender.
Key injuries/squad omissions: Young defender Roy Myre was omitted from the team. Also missing out were veteran striker Winston Parks, goalkeeper Adrian de Lemos and defender Cristian Montero. Defenders Harold Wallace and Michael Rodriguez made the team but they are recovering from knee injuries. Coach Alexandre Guimaraes is taking a bit of a gamble in selecting both of them while the youngster Myre is ready to go. Defender Gilberto Martinez is also coming off an injury but is expected to start.
Prognosis: Costa Rica has its work cut out for itself in Group A. It faces Germany in the opening game of the tournament, and even though the Germans have looked less-than-impressive as of late, a loss to the Central American nation isn't likely to happen. Poland has much more World Cup experience and Ecuador has dominated Costa Rica in international play over the years. For all its attacking flair and ability to produce entertaining soccer, Costa Rica's lack of tactical acumen will be exposed. Third place is the best Costa Rica can hope for, but more than likely it will finish bottom of the group.
Road to the World Cup
Current FIFA Ranking: #26
1st round matches:
June 9 vs. Germany in Munich
June 15 vs. Ecuador in Hamburg
June 20 vs. Poland in Hanover
2006 qualification route: Costa Rica beat Cuba in a two-game playoff
in the first round of CONCACAF qualifying. It finished in first place (10
points) in Group 2 during the second round ahead of Guatemala (10 points),
and in third (16 points) in the final round behind the U.S and Mexico (22
points each)
Qualifying record: 18 games played, 8 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses
Goals for: 30 Goals against: 25
Top goal-scorer in qualifying: Paulo Wanchope (8)
Qualifying results: (home team listed first)
June 12, 2004 - Cuba 2, Costa Rica 2
June 20, 2004 - Costa Rica 1, Cuba 1
Aug. 18, 2004 - Costa Rica 2, Honduras 5
Sept. 5, 2004 - Guatemala 2, Costa Rica 1
Sept. 8, 2004 - Costa Rica 1, Canada 0
Oct. 9, 2004 - Costa Rica 5, Guatemala 0
Oct. 13, 2004 - Canada 1, Costa Rica 3
Nov. 17, 2004 - Honduras 0, Costa Rica 0
Feb. 9, 2005 - Costa Rica 1, Mexico 2
March 26, 2005 - Costa Rica 2, Panama 1
March 30, 2005 - Trinidad and Tobago 0, Costa Rica 0
June 4, 2005 - U.S. 3, Costa Rica 0
June 8, 2005 - Costa Rica 3, Guatemala 2
Aug. 17, 2005 - Mexico 2, Costa Rica 0
Sept. 3, 2005 - Panama 1, Costa Rica 3
Sept. 7, 2005 - Costa Rica 2, Trinidad and Tobago 0
Oct. 8, 2005 - Costa Rica 3, U.S. 0
Oct. 12, 2005 - Guatemala 3, Costa Rica 1
World Cup History
FIFA member since: 1921
Team nickname: Los Ticos
All-time caps leader: Luis Marin (116)
All-time leading scorer: Paulo Wanchope (43 goals)
Number of Previous World Cup Appearances: 2
All-time record: 7 games played, 3 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses
Goals for: 9 Goals against: 12
World Cup History:
1930 to 1954 - Did not enter
1958 to 1986 - Did not qualify
1990 - Second round
1994 - Did no qualify
1998 - Did not qualify
2002 - First round
Biggest victory: 2-0 vs. China in 2002
Biggest defeat: 4-1 vs. Czechoslovakia in 1990
Overall top scorer: Ronald Gomez (3 goals)
Most appearances: Hernan Medford (5 matches)
Hosted the World Cup: Never
Past Achievements:
UNCAF Nations Cup (Central-American Champions): 1991, 1997, 1999, 2003,
2005
Greatest Players:
Juan Ulloa: One of Costa Rica's most prolific strikers. Ulloa struck 27
goals in international competition from 1955-61.
Juan Cayasso: One of the heroes from the 1990 World Cup team. Cayaasso's goal helped Costa Rica earn an improbable 1-0 win over Scotland that helped them advance to the second round.