Costa Rica look unlikely to pass the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, as the combined strength of Uruguay, Italy and England looks just too imposing for La Sele to overcome.
This has been reflected in the build up to the tournament, as they lost three of their five friendly matches.
Their first test came in the form of Group B heavy-weights Chile, who will no doubt benefit from the tournament’s location in South America. The score ended 4-0 to Chile and, despite this, Costa Rica did manage to show some promise.
Although they seemed easily quelled in the final third, they worked cohesively and as a team despite conceding. Their hard work was undone in the second half as Chile ran riot, scoring three more with just three minutes separating the second and third goals.
Expectations were understandably low for their next encounter, but fans would have expected an improved performance against South Korea. The match was arguably worse, as they saw both Christopher Meneses and his replacement Mauricio Castillo sent off. The only goal of the game came in the opening ten minutes through Korean striker Kim Shin-Wook.
After a period spent largely rebuilding the national team, fans will be altogether disappointed with what they have seen from La Sele. However they finally ended their three-match losing streak with a 2-1 win over Paraguay.
Boosted by the return of Bryan Ruiz, coach Jorge Luis Pinto saw a much improved Costa Rica team take to the field. He was also the beneficiary of the emergence of on-loan Arsenal youngster Joel Campbell, who had recently put Manchester United to the sword in the UEFA Champions League. Goals from Campbell and returning Alvaro Saborio sealed a vital win.
Sadly for Luis Pinto’s men the celebrations were short lived. They soon faced Japan who would also be making the trip to Brazil. The Rising Sun stars showed why they’re not to be taken likely in the World Cup, winning the game 3-1 comprehensibly with goals from Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Kagawa and Yoichiro Kakitani.
Although Bryan Ruiz scored after the half an hour mark, his side were soundly beaten.
Thoroughly disappointed with the result having played some good football throughout the match, many were left uncertain of Costa Rica’s real capabilities; particularly against fellow World Cup opponents. They rounded off their friendly matches with a trip to the United States to face the Republic of Ireland.
Having recently faced fellow Group D opponents Italy, Costa Rica would in fact come away with the same result: a 1-1 draw thanks to an equaliser from Celso Borges. Kevin Doyle put the Irish in front and could have won the game from the spot, but Robbie Keane’s penalty was saved by Patrick Pemberton. Not the best result but certainly an improvement.
Overall, not the most impressive of preparations for a team that badly needed it to go in their favour. Costa Rica have a slim chance of making it into the last 16, but their warm up matches perhaps prove the task before them may just be an impossible one.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
