Top 10 Costa Rica

Costa Rica Facing El Salvador Tonight

Costa Rica has a tough task tonight facing El Salvador in World Cup Qualifying. For the Sele, the Costa Rican national team, it’s do or die, as it needs a win to stay alive in the competition after its horrendous loss 3-0 to Mexico last Saturday.

Although El Salvador may be out of the running (mathematically they still have a shot) but they are not a team that has laid down for anyone. On Saturday night the Cuscatlecos played the U.S. a very tight game in Sandy, Utah and were probably disappointed to walk away empty handed.

In June Costa Rica was the toast of CONCACAF. A 1-0 win over El Salvador, followed by a 3-1 drubbing of the U.S. and a 3-2 road win over T&T had the Ticos on top of the group and looking comfortable to make another World Cup.

Things took a turn for the worse in August. A road trip to Honduras saw the group leaders smashed 4-0. That match was followed by the home thrashing on Saturday night at the hands of El Tri, and suddenly the Costa Ricans look to be in a bit of trouble.

The perfect way to get back in the swing of things would be a win in San Salvador, a place that has not been easy to visit during the Hex. The U.S. could only manage a draw on its trip to El Salvador and Mexico was handed a loss, so the task for the Ticos won’t be easy.

But a win would give Costa Rica a much needed three points. With the U.S. going on the road, where they’ve been poor to say the least, and the other two teams in front of Costa Rica squaring off in Azteca, three points could put the Ticos back at the top of the group.