Fate of Costa Rica’s World Cup chances to be decided
- by crv.staff
- 12.11.09
- 3:18 PM UTC
- Filed in Costa Rica
Source: Tico Times
By: Adam Williams
The Costa Rican men’s soccer team face Uruguay on Saturday, exactly one month since the Ticos’ match with the United States that missed them a ride to South Africa.
It’s been a tough month for the Costa Rican men’s soccer team.
In their last World Cup qualifying match on Oct. 14, the Tico team, or La Sele, was 15 seconds shy of clinching a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when United States midfielder Jonathan Bornstein scored in the 94th minute to tie the game 2-2 and forever earn the title of villain in the hearts of the Costa Rican faithful. Had the Ticos held on to win, they wouldn’t be where they are now – preparing to play in a two-game, do-or-die playoff series with Uruguay for the final World Cup slot allotted to the Western Hemisphere. The playoff will be decided by the combined score of the two games.
“The loss is behind us now,” said Costa Rica midfielder Luis Marín in an interview with FIFA.com. “Of course it was a heavy blow, but mentally we’ve handled it well. Coach René Simoes spoke to us about it and we also looked at how we ourselves were to blame. Only God knows why it had to happen like that, but from now on we’ve simply got to focus on the matches against Uruguay.”
He’s right. If the Ticos can win the two-game series with Uruguay, they’ll taste victory and qualify for the World Cup, and those painful memories will forever be forgotten.
Related posts:
- Costa Rican under-20 team narrowly advances to second round of World Cup Source: Tico Times By: Adam Williams On the heels of...
- Big week for Costa Rican U-20 and men’s soccer Source: Tico Times By: Adam Williams The most important 36...
Like this article? Get more articles like this - Subscribe Now
