Ahead of the pack up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil no one gave Costa Rica much any expectation of advancing past the gathering stage. Who might have imagined, all things considered, that they would top an area additionally containing Italy, England and Uruguay and afterward make it to the last eight?
1. The players know each other back to front
There is one thing that emerges about the squad* that Costa Rica will take to Russia: it highlights 12 of the 23 players who were in Brazil four years prior. It additionally incorporates four players who played parts in the qualifiers for the last world finals however who did not make the last squad for some reason: Bryan Oviedo, Johnny Acosta, Kendall Waston and David Guzman.
Include those two gatherings together and Costa Rica have a center of 16 players who have been as one throughout the previous eight years, through great circumstances and awful. In that time they must know each other inside and out, on and off the pitch, all of which will most likely demonstrate supportive in Russia.
2. Valuable Experience
The 23-man list includes some prepared campaigners, and not simply in the footballing sense. The normal age of the squad is 29 and the normal number of tops is 46.
At the point when the shriek sounds for that opening match against the Serbians in Samara, Los Ticos won’t be overawed by the event, which could have a significant effect against a side that has not graced the huge stage since South Africa 2010.
3. The Talismanic Keeper
While some may differ and civil argument will dependably seethe on the point, there is little uncertainty that Keylor Navas merits a specify at any rate with regards to examining who is the best goalkeeper on the planet at the present time. In winning everything there is to win with Real Madrid over the most recent couple of years, the Tico overseer has done as such as one of the stars at one of the greatest clubs on the planet.
While some of Costa Rica’s driving lights are not in the best of frame, with Bryan Ruiz and Joel Campbell engaging damage and Celso Borges having had a frustrating season with Deportivo La Coruna in Spain, there can be no questioning that Navas is large and in charge. And keeping in mind that that is the situation, Costa Rica can’t be precluded in Russia, not with their magic manager as his life.
4. Historical Models
Before the finish of Brazil 2014, Costa Rica had earned the regard of the world. The years that took after were difficult, in any case. And in addition neglecting to win a title in the rivalries they challenged, Los Ticos wind up in 25th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, admirably uncontrolled of the two top choices in their gathering: Brazil and Switzerland, who lie second and 6th individually.
Subsequently, the Costa Ricans are being neglected afresh, however not maybe to the degree that they were four years back. All things considered, they are some path shy of being managed the sort of status generally given to quarter-finalists from the past world finals.
However that is no awful thing. La Tricolor for the most part perform better when belittled, just like the case at Italy 1990 and again four years back. There is no reason at all why history can’t rehash itself this time around in Russia.