Soccer: El Salvador Hates
Costa Rica
Midfielder Jose Luis
Lopez is under no
illusions about what
awaits Costa Rica in
next week's soccer World
Cup qualifier against El
Salvador.
"We are going to face
very tough conditions
over there, because I
heard there have been a
lot of threats from the
people from Salvador,"
Lopez said.
"They hate us and, yeah,
I think FIFA, it's going
to be watching because
it's going to be very
dangerous.
"It's a cultural thing."
Costa Rica and El
Salvador are already
guaranteed of making the
six-nation final round
of qualifying for the
North, Central American
and Caribbean region
ahead of the 2010 World
Cup.
But 30,000 fans will
pack the stadium at San
Salvador to give Lopez
and his team-mates a
heated reception.
Lopez does not fear for
his safety and is even
looking forward to the
challenge.
"We are very safe, we
are going to have
security and stuff," he
said.
"It's good to play in
that atmosphere, because
you are going to have so
much pressure.
"That's where the good
player comes up."
Lopez also played for
Costa Rica last month
and had a punishing
travel schedule.
He said it was a
challenge to recover
quickly from the flights
and different time
zones.
Lopez added he had to
adapt to the difference
in game styles between
the A-League and the
Costa Rican national
team.
"It's very tough,
because you change your
time zone and there are
16-17 hours you have to
adjust in one or two
days," he said.
"But if you eat, rest
and sleep very well, you
can do it.
"You have to change your
mindset - we say we have
to change our DVD inside
our brain, because
you're used to playing
in a way.
"Two days after, you
have to change it." |
