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COSTA RICA |
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Costa Rica Goes In As Underdog vs. Uruguay
Costa Rica is hoping to use its role as
underdog to upset Uruguay in the two-game
World Cup playoffs and grab the last berth
from the Americas in next year’s tournament
in South Africa.
The Costa Ricans face Uruguay on Saturday at
Saprissa stadium in San José, and then play
the second leg on Nov. 18 in Montevideo. The
winner over two legs advances.
Costa Rica is trying to reach its third
straight World Cup. Uruguay last played in
the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
This is the third straight time Uruguay has
been involved in a playoff for a World Cup
spot. The South Americans were successful
against Australia for the 2002 World Cup,
but failed against Australia for 2006.
Four teams have already advanced for South
America: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and
Argentina. Three are in from North and
Central America and the Caribbean: the
United States, Mexico and Honduras.
Uruguay comes into the match with a large
group of high-profile players from European
clubs including Diego Forlan (Atletico
Madrid), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Fernando
Muslera (Lazio) Martin Caceres (Juventus)
and Carlos Valdez (Reggina).
"The names don’t play the game," Costa Rica
forward Froylan Ledezma said. "They’ll come
here and try to intimidate us."
Costa Rica was on course for automatic
qualification. The Ticos led the United
States 2-0 in the final qualifying match in
Washington D.C., but lost 3-2 on a goal in
second-half injury time which forced Costa
Rica into the playoff. The loss sent
Honduras through instead.
Uruguay has won the World Cup twice, the
first in 1930 at home and again in 1950 in
Brazil.
Uruguay’s main concern seems to be the
artificial turf at Saprissa, which always
gives opposing sides a fit. Uruguay coach
Washington Tabarez has been asked about it
repeatedly and said a few days ago he was
tired of the questions.
"They say the field in Costa Rica is
different," Tabarez said. "It’s where we
will play and the soap opera being made
about it is totally secondary."
The Ticos are bidding for a third successive
appearance in the finals having missed out
on goal difference, to Honduras, in the
qualifiers, after drawing 2-2 in the US.
The Uruguay team is in the play-offs for the
third world cup in succession. In 2001 they
beat Australia but four years later they
lost out to the same country on penalties.
After the disappointment of losing at home
to Argentina, they are in good shape, with
the old and the new – Forlán and Luis Suárez
– the chief threats.
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