DISENCHANTED!

Costa Ricans were left disenchanted and breathless in the face of defeat when the Costa Rican national team lost to Ecuador 3-0 and was eliminated from advancing to the next round of World Cup play.

The game next Tuesday with Poland, who also has been eliminated, is nothing more than a contractual obligation.  For most Costa Ricans, the World Cup came to an end yesterday.

Yesterday's game was the second loss, losing to Germany last Friday 4-2. And if you consider the exibition games leading up to the World Cup, the Ticos have been a big disappointment to most fans, as they were not able to savour one win.

The mildest of comments by fans is that Costa Rica needs a change in direction. The harsh comments were directed at team coach Alexandre Guimaraes, with many fans feeling that he was the reason for the teams poor show. "He was there only for the money", one fan with his face painted in national colours said to the Repretel cameras set up outside the Hamburg stadium, specifically to take in "quejas" (complaints) by those Ticos in Germany.

The Costa Rican national team didn't have a chance, individually nor collectively. They never took control of the game against Ecuador, allowing the first goal in the first 8 minutes of play. From there they never picked up the momentum, allowing the second goal and with only two minutes left in the game, allowed the third past the goalie with poor defence.

"Ecuador economized their energies, pushed us hard and made us look bad", said the sports director of Radio Momunental, Everardo Herrera. The director added that the Ticos lacked aggressiveness and presence on the field.

There was no question that Ecuador dominated the game. They were organized. In contrast, the Costa Ricans where in chaos throughout most of the game.

Most Costa Ricans interviewed for the nightly television news casts voiced their disappointment and better luck for 2010.

And, oh yeah, most of the complaints to Channel 11 "quejas" by those in Hamburg was the high cost of the beer!