How will Costa Rica fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SamRCox_ as he looks at the Central American side in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
Costa Rica History at the World Cup
This is Costa Rica’s fourth World Cup appearance and their third in succession. Three of those ventures have ended in group stage exits, but the 2014 World Cup saw an improbable run to the last eight.
That was their best performance at a World Cup, and they were just a couple of penalties away from knocking out the Netherlands.
With a population of around five million, Costa Rica punch above their weight on the international stage.
The scenes in Costa Rica as they celebrated reaching the 2022 World Cup! 🇨🇷🏆pic.twitter.com/DSRkDWgwFV
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 15, 2022
They didn’t appear in a World Cup until 1990, but they have been a regular in the 21st century. The 2010 tournament in South Africa is the only time they have failed to qualify since the turn of the millennium.
Costa Rica are naturally more competitive in the Gold Cup, but they have fallen at the quarter-final stage in the two editions of the tournament since the last World Cup.
More recent history shows this a team which can compete in Qatar, however, with wins over Canada and USA in 2022, plus a draw with Mexico in Mexico City.
Costa Rica Nickname
The Costa Rican team has three nicknames. Los Ticos will often be used, and is how natives of Costa Rica are referred to. La Sele, or ‘The Selection’ in English, is also a popular Costa Rica nickname.
On occasion, they will be called La Tricolor, which is a nod to the three colours featuring the nation’s kits (red, white and blue).
World Cup 2022 Group
Costa Rica were drawn in Group E for the 2022 World Cup, where they are sports betting outsiders alongside Spain, Germany and Japan.
Costa Rica Fixtures:
-
Costa Rica vs Spain - 23rd November 2022
-
Costa Rica vs Japan - 27th November 2022
-
Costa Rica vs Germany - 1st December 2022
Costa Rica Kit World Cup 2022
Costa Rica’s home kit for the 2022 World Cup isn’t the most exciting of the tournament. A red body has blue cuffs with white trim. New Balance haven’t been bold here.
This design has been mirrored for the away edition, with a red New Balance logo standing out on the chest of a white base. The sleeve cuffs are blue on this occasion, for what could easily pass as an England shirt.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 🇨🇷
— New Balance Football (@NBFootball) September 15, 2022
Presenting the new 2022 @fedefutbolcrc home and away kits, in iconic red and brilliant white.
#NBFootball @newbalance pic.twitter.com/Yypl2CtAL0
Who is The Costa Rica Manager?
Costa Rica’s manager is Luis Fernando Suarez. The Medellin native is something of a journeyman, having begun his managerial career in 1999.
Suarez had a successful stint with Ecuador in the noughties, overseeing their run to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup, when they were knocked out by England.
Best Costa Rica Player
Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas is Costa Rica’s most famous player.
Premier League fans will also be familiar with former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell, ex-Fulham Bryan Ruiz and Bryan Oviedo, who had spells with Everton and Sunderland.
The vast majority of Costa Rica’s squad for the most recent international break play in the country’s topflight, the Liga Promerica.
Keylor Navas has been outstanding for PSG in the Champions League this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/v2eyzcSkIU
— GOAL (@goal) April 13, 2021
Costa Rica Odds at 2022 World Cup
Drawn into one of the tournament’s toughest groups, Costa Rica are a longshot to reach the knockout rounds in pre-tournament World Cup betting. Their results of late have been good, however, with just one defeat in 12 matches.
888Sport’s World Cup odds price Los Ticos as long as 55/1 to win Group E, and they are out at 11/4 to beat Japan, which is their most winnable fixture.
Bet on Costa Rica at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
