World Cup 2018 Preview- Costa Rica

Team: Costa Rica

Manager: Óscar Ramírez

Group: E

Other teams in group: Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia

THE SQUAD

Costa Rica have a squad light on stars but stacked with technically-gifted, understated players. The core of the squad – 14 players – who beat Uruguay and Greece on the way to the quarter-finals of the 2014 Cup remain this time out. One of the most experienced squads in the tournament boast the likes of captain Bryan Ruiz, Cristian Gamboa and Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas in their leadership group. There is youth, too, with Norrkoping defender Ian Smith one from which much is expected, while former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell is still only 25.

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense), Leonel Moreira (Herediano).

Defenders: Johnny Acosta (Rionegro Aguilas), Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna), Ian Smith (Norrkoping), Oscar Duarte (Espanyol), Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United), Cristian Gamboa (Celtic), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ronald Matarrita (New York City).

Midfielders: Celso Borges (Deportivo La Coruna), Christian Bolanos (Saprissa), Daniel Colindres (Saprissa), Rodney Wallace (New York City), Randall Azofeifa (Herediano), Yeltsin Tejeda (Lausanne-Sport), David Guzman (Portland Timbers).

Forwards: Joel Campbell (Real Betis), Bryan Ruiz (Sporting CP), Johan Venegas (Saprissa), Marco Urena (Los Angeles FC).

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Costa Rica came second behind Mexico in the CONCACAF qualifying group to gain automatic entry to the World Cup. Los Ticos won four, drew four and lost twice during a campaign that saw them guaranteed qualification before the final day defeat to Panama, which also granted the latter access to the finals. Costa Rica beat the United States home and away and drew at home to Mexico in their ten-match final group.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Bryan Ruiz

The captain, Ruiz, may be best known on these shores for his time with Fulham in the Premier League, but the cultured midfielder is a key player for perennial Portuguese underachievers Sporting Clube and was the major force in Los Ticos' 2014 World Cup campaign, scoring twice as they reached the last eight.

Keylor Navas

The major beneficiary of Los Ticos' spellbinding run in Brazil wasn't an outfield player but their goalkeeper, Navas, whose three clean sheets in five games were enough to persuade Real Madrid to trigger his €10 million release clause from Levante, and he remains number one at the Santiago Bernebéu four years later.

Ian Smith

At 20 years old, Smith is the youngest player by some five years in the Costa Rica squad, and is unlikely to start the tournament as first choice but is highy rated by Ramírez. The youngster was headhunted by Swedish side Norrkoping at the beginning of 2018 and his performances earned him a place in the World Cup squad, where it wouldn't be surprising to see the right-back emerge as the surprise package of this experienced team.

WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING AND STAYING

17/06: Costa Rica V Serbia, Cosmos Arena, Samara

22/06: Brazil V Costa Rica, Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg

27/06: Switzerland V Costa Rica, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

Costa Rica manager Óscar Ramírez's first senior managerial job is to lead his country into the World Cup. He was meant to be assistant to national team legend Paulo Wanchope, who was forced to resign after getting into a fight with a steward at a game in Panama.

Costa Rica are the most successful national team in Central America, having won three CONCACAF Championships and qualified for five World Cups, more than any other side.

They have made the knockout stages twice in their four appearances to date, reaching the Round of 16 in 1990, bowing out in the groups in 2002 and 2006 before their quarter-final appearance four years ago.

THEIR RECENT FORM

Costa Rica lost just two of their ten games in qualification, one of which came on the final day when they lost to Panama having already qualified. They won one of their three warm-up friendlies, 3-0 at home against Northern Ireland, before defeats in Europe to England and Belgium.

First game: Costa Rica face Serbia in Samara in their opening game, the first of three games against sides who topped their qualifying groups.