Costa Rica has achieved it: the team of Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suárez beat New Zealand in the intercontinental tie.
The Americans have thus obtained their ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
This is his sixth participation in a World Cup final phase. Recently, they had an outstanding performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Here, the team achieved the best result in its history, reaching the quarter-finals.
The goal is to repeat this success in Qatar. However, it will not be easy: in Group E of the World Cup, they will face Germany, Spain, and Japan.
Having two of the 2022 World Cup favourites in their own group means anything but draw luck for the Costa Rican team. We take a look at the squad with which Suárez wants to surprise the two European teams and the entire football world.
Possible line-up of Costa Rica according to our analysis
Costa Rica's most widely used system is a 4-2-3-1, which Suárez occasionally varies to a 5-4-1, with one of the defensive midfielders moving to the defensive line. In the play-offs, however, the coach opted for a 4-4-2 with a double pivot. However, we expect the classic formation in the World Cup.
Goal.
Things are clearly settled in goal: Costa Rican superstar Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain) watches over the box. The team captain has no real rival who can take his place. Esteban Alvarado (CS Herediano) and Leonel Moreira (LD Alajuelense) have been selected again and again recently and should also be in the squad for the team in Qatar.
Defending.
Óscar Duarte (UD Levante), Francisco Calvo (San Jose Earthquakes) and Kendall Waston (Deportivo Saprissa) are vying for positions in the center of defense, with an advantage for the first two. Defensive midfielder Daniel Chacón (CS Cartaginés) and Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios) are available as substitutes to deal with any setback.
Left back Bryan Oviedo (FC Copenhagen) is virtually guaranteed in the starting lineup. His reinforcements are Ronald Matarrita (FC Cincinatti) and 20-year-old Ian Lawrence (LD Alajuelense). On the right side, Keysher Fuller (CS Herediano) should have more opportunities to enter the starting eleven. The alternative would be Carlos Martínez (AD San Carlos).
Midfield.
Gerson Torres (CS Herediano) or Yeltsin Tejeda (CS Herediano) should start as starters. The 22-year-old Orlando Galo (CS Herediano) can also play in this position. Douglas López (Santos de Guápiles) and David Guzmán (Deportivo Saprissa) are also likely to be selected.
Available for attacking midfield are Bryan Ruiz (LD Alajuelense), who can also play up front or on the wing, and 19-year-old Brandon Aguilera (Guanacasteca).
On the left flank, Jewison Bennette (CS Herediano) and Randall Leal (SC Nashville) will duel for a place in the starting eleven. Gerson Torres (CS Herediano) is likely to play on the right wing, but he can also play on the left or in midfield. The 21-year-old Carlos Mora (LD Alajuelense) also hopes to enjoy minutes in the right field.
Strikers.
The experienced Joel Campbell (Club León FC) is emerging as the starting center forward. In a double forward, 22-year-old Anthony Contreras (CS Herediano) is likely to play alongside him.
It is likely that Campbell will also move to the wings and that Luis Fernando Suárez will send Contreras to the field as the only center forward. The experienced Johan Venegas (LD Alajuelense) is the third striker in the Costa Rican lineup.
Costa Rica National Team – World Cup Analysis: Important information.
Does Costa Rica have emerging talent?
The Costa Rican national team has promising talent in its ranks. Here we must mention Bennette, 18, Aguilera, 19, Lawrence, 20, or Mora and Chacón, 21. It remains to be seen if they will reach a top club in Europe. However, with good performances, they could use the World Cup as a springboard.
However, the really good and experienced players in the Costa Rican national team are already very old. Navas will be 36 years old during the World Cup, Ruiz will be 37 in the tournament, Duarte as central defender will be 33 years old in Qatar. The best players on the team have seen too many summers and this can affect the team's physique in high-intensity games.
Are there chances of reaching the playoffs?
The chances for Costa Rica are slim. This team would have had a very bad time in any group. After all, the best international class players are not many and they are old. The fact that it is against Spain and Germany, candidates to go far in this tournament, is an additional blow.
In a normal tournament, the Costa Rican team will be eliminated after the group stage. The competition is simply too good to reach the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup . But perhaps this is precisely what gives Costa Rica a morale advantage: Costa Rica can only surprise the public in a positive way and does not have any kind of pressure on it.
Source images: FIFA.
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