Sampson kicks player off Costa Rica team

[Scotty]

'Tico' Sampson fed up with Wright behaviour

Costa Rican defender Mauricio Wright has been removed from the squad to face Cuba this weekend for what national team manager Steve Sampson called 'discipline problems'. According to a statement issued Tuesday by Sampson, Wright will definitely be retiring from the national team.

"It has become apparent that he (Wright) is no longer willing to play for the team. When the squad get together, the idea is not only to train and work on tactics but also to evaluate other non-playing aspects of the team," the US born coach said in his statement.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/040609/6/1hj1.html

[dfb547490]

I remember he had some disciplinary problems when he played for San Jose, but he was also our best player (granted this was back when we sucked).

Still a weird decision by Sampson tho, usually he doesn't kick team leaders off the squad until a month before the World Cup.

[Quaker]

Mauricio Wright started out playing really well for San Jose, but I think discipline issues led to his departure. It became apparent on the field, too. Lothar Osiander was not at all pleased with Wright's tendency to venture forward from his center back position. Mauricio would go on dribbling sprees and often lose the ball, leaving his team in a dangerous situation. The Quakes traded Wright to New England for Calichman and Burns early in the 2000 season, about a year after joining the team.

I remember Mauricio Wright scoring a pretty impressive goal at the 2002 World Cup. He seemed to be one of the better players on an overachieving Costa Rica squad. Led to AEK Athens signing him. Looks like he's back at Club Sport Herediano now.

This is just the kind of thing that should make Costa Ricans nervous. They've got a good team, but Cuba will not be a pushover. IMHO, Costa Rica has the toughest first-round opponent of all the favored teams in CONCACAF.

[Autogolazo]

I'm sure Wright probably did do something inadvisable, but we're also all familiar with Steve Sampson's man-management skills--zip.