ABU DHABI // Costa Rica is the only team in its group not to have hoisted the World Cup trophy as champions, but that will not stop its fans from believing they can advance beyond the group stage.
"The expectations are that with the whole of Costa Rica behind La Sele, qualifying from Group D is not out of the question," said 26-year-old Franceska McCaughan, an American living in the UAE whose family runs a business in Costa Rica. "The country will stop for each match and with expectations very high, everyone will be very alert and focused on winning each game in Group D against Italy, England and Uruguay."
Costa Rica shocked Uruguay in its opening match, 3-1. It was a team the Ticos had yet to defeat. Before Saturda's victory, Costa Rica had lost to Uruguay seven times and tied three.
"Costa Ricans, they live football, they love football, it was something very important and it is something very important," said Alexandra Alvarado, 41, a Costa Rican who has lived in Abu Dhabi with her family for nearly six years. "It's going to be very tough, but, let's see."
Los Ticos, as the Central American team are also affectionately known, are returning to the biggest international football competition following an eight-year absence. Costa Rica first appeared in the World Cup stage in 1990 when they succeeded in reaching the Round of 16. Since their impressive inaugural appearance, the Central Americans have not fared well in their return visits. In 2002 and 2006 they were unable to make it past the group stage.
Costa Rica also faces England and Italy in group play.
"Even if England doesn't have a very, very tough team this year, it's England. England is England," said Mrs Alvarado. "We'll have to take our chances against Italia. So let's see."
Mrs Alvarado says she is "very optimistic" about her team's prospects and believes Costa Rica could make it as far as the quarterfinals.
"Yeah, that would be fantastic," Mrs Alvarado said. "I know I'm being very optimistic, but why not?
We have a very good goalie. He's very good. That's something to begin with. I would say, more or less the level is not bad, so I think they could do a good performance."
The "very good goalie" is 27-year-old Keylor Navas, who was among the first players named to the Costa Rica preliminary squad by coach Jorge Luis Pinto. He plays for Levante UD in the Spanish La Liga. Navas was also named the best goalkeeper of the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2009.
Another player to watch out for, especially when La Sele play against England is striker Joel Campbell, said Ms McCaughan.
"There is much suspense for the highly anticipated match between Costa Rica and England on June 24," Ms McCaughan said. "Even Prince Harry will be in attendance to watch the crucial game which will take place in the regional city of Belo Horizonte. One of the key players to watch from Le Sele is Joel Campbell, who is the 21 year old striker from the English team Arsenal.
"Costa Rican players are known for giving their all on the field and shine their brightest against big teams when they are not the favourites. The team is stronger than ever and the fans believe that the worse case scenario is that La Sele will shine and come back to the next World Cup with even more experience and stronger team."
rpennington@thenational.ae
