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First Signs of a Tico Tailspin?
FIFA WORLD CUP
First Signs of a Tico Tailspin?
by FIFAworldcup.com
Costa Rica, forced to play behind closed
doors and already reeling from a demoralizing loss to Mexico, will have
their work cut out against Panama in San José at month’s end.
Unlike years past, tussles with Panama are no longer happy foregone
conclusions. Just ask Caribbean powers Jamaica, who were eliminated at
the semi-final hurdle after being beaten roundly by the “Red Tide” at
their once impregnable home patch in Kingston.
Now, throw into the mix the fact that the Saprissa Stadium - normally
one of the most inhospitable and frightening venues in the whole of
CONCACAF - will be rendered a sad, echoing concrete ghost of a bowl
after crowd trouble against Mexico forced strict FIFA punishment.
No fans will be allowed into the stadium for the 26 March Panamanian
encounter.
Not only did the match with Mexico bring down the behind-closed-door
sanction and a hefty fine, but it also went a ways to further rattling
already flagging Costa Rican confidence.
Their loss to Mexico on the 9th of last month was a first-ever defeat at
home to the regional powers in the history of FIFA World Cup qualifying.
It was also the first loss on home soil to El Tri since 1961. The Costa
Ricans were recently crowned champions of Central America, earned a
berth at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and were thought to be going strong since
Korea/Japan 2002 – but things are hardly sunny down San Jose way.
Two goals from qualifying top-scorer Jaime Lozano in a stretch of only
two minutes (8 and 10) effectively killed off the match with Mexico even
before it got started. Though the Ticos managed to pull one back for
pride’s sake it was well and truly a case of too little too late.
The scorer of the late first-half consolation strike was none other than
Paulo Wanchope, arguably the nation’s most successful export and a
veteran of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. But troubles at the
weekend with club side Malaga in Spain will have fans wondering about
the striking ace’s mental state. Near the end of a match with Real Betis,
he physically confronted two fans of the club after claiming he was
racially abused.
The incidents that forced the ground closure for the Panama match were
said to have taken place after the 9 February meeting, with Mexican
players taking refuge behind police shields to avoid a shower of objects
coming from the stands including batteries, cigarette lighters and
coins.
And as the Ticos are forced to bemoan their luck and fairly stiff
justice by FIFA, Panama may smell blood in the water. The side, once the
lacklustre whipping boys of the region, have been on an upward
trajectory of late and will see a suddenly impotent Saprissa Stadium as
an opportunity almost too good to be true.
In their first final-round qualifier, they managed an impressive point
against fellow up-and comers Guatemala at home in Panama City, even
without the services of Dely Valdes. Though 0-0 may not seem a grand
feat, they neutralised the rather substantial attacking exploits of
Carlos Ruiz and co. to procure a rare point in an even rarer appearance
in the final-round of CONCACAF qualifying.
With an extra finals spot available for the region’s combatants (the
fourth-place finisher from the ‘Hexagonal’ will take on the fifth
finisher from Asia) this campaign may represent a chance at history for
poverty-stricken Panama who have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup
finals. A result against Costa Rica behind closed doors in San Jose
would spell the perfect path.
For the hosts though, a win would go a long way to stemming the rot
currently setting in. Perhaps they can take solace in their recent
history as slow starters. In the previous round they were manhandled 2-5
by Honduras after drawing twice with Cuba. But with time of the essence,
Jorge Luis Pinto’s men will need to get it right in a hurry.
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