Matchday Thread | GROUP D

Tough group. The 'top three' are much of a muchness, and Costa Rica is a lot better than one might think.
I expect cagey draws initially, with the winners of the final two games going through - probably Uruguay (because although their defence sucks they have Suárez, who probably wants it more than Balotelli), and England (because of greater experience at this level).

 

I agree 100%.

BTW: Suerte contra Atlante.

 

Three mediocre past it sides battling for a 1/8 final exit.

 

then butthurt continuessssssssss

 

At least they got there.

 

Uruguay's defence doesn't really suck. Godin is a beast and having a massive massive season, Caceres is back to starting for Juve after his accident and is another beast on his day and Pereira just won the Portuguese league and is in the semis of the europa league. The only one that shouldn't be there of the starters is Lugano unfortunately, I think he's been past it for a while and the kid Gimenez should be taking his place. But Lugano might come good, he's a good leader. What Uruguay struggles with is midfield especially creative midfielders, there is basically none that are playing well at the moment.

 

Preliminary roster for Costa Rica:

Goalkeepers:
Keylor Navas (Levante, 27)
Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense, 32)
Daniel Cambronero (Herediano, 28)
Esteban Alvarado (AZ Alkmaar, 25)

Defenders:
Giancarlo González (Columbus Crew, 26)
Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense, 30)
Kendall Waston (Saprissa, 26)
Michael Umaña (Saprissa, 31)
Roy Miller, (New York red Bulls)
Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg, 24)
Oscar Duarte (Brugge , 24)
Heiner Mora (Saprissa, 29)
Junior Díaz (Mainz 04, 30)
Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew, 23)

Midfielders:
Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa, 22)
Carlos Hernández (Wellington Phoenix, 32)
Celso Borges (AIK, 25)
José Miguel Cubero (Herediano, 27)
Hansell Arauz (Saprissa, 24)
Michael Barrantes, (Aalesund, 30)
Esteban Granados (Herediano, 28)
Ariel Rodriguez (Alajuelense, 28)
Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew, 30)
Marco Ureña (Kubán Krasnodar, 24)
Christian Bolaños (Copenhague, 29)
Diego Calvo (Valerenga, 23).

Forwards:
Randall Brenes (Cartaginés, 30)
Alvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake, 32)
Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven, 28)
Joel Campbell (Olympiakos, 21).

 

Costa Rica was 2nd in the Hex. Don't count them out. Scotland and Sweden learned that in 1990.

 

Well, a 1 pm match in Recife in mid-June will probably be about 85F, with about 95% humidity. In other words, right in Costa Rica's wheelhouse. Italy better score early, or things could get quite, uh, sticky.

 

Has Italy ever played Costa Rica?

 

If they're so abysmal, then why has the US side (which drew with Italy in the 2006 World Cup) not gotten a point in CR since 1985?

 

if the WC were being held in San Jose Saprissa Stadium... I'd give Costa Rica every chance... unfortunately though they're one of those sides that are great at home, not so much away though... this was a pretty brutal group to get drawn in... ironically though they play Italy 2nd, and the Italian's have in the last 3 world cups had pretty disastrous 2nd games... 1-2 v Croatia and 1-1 vs USA & New Zealand ... so Itlay need to be careful but at the end of the day, it would be a huge achievement for them to get out of this group...

 

Round of 16 Group C opponents are nothing to be too concerned about.

Italy/Uruguay/England are capable of beating whichever team from Group C they end up facing. Colombia would obviously be tricky.

1/4 final will be tough as the opponents are likely to be 2 of Brazil/Spain/Holland. That is likely where Group D dies.

 

Not this bunch has-been Group D living in the past teams. Wouldn't be the slightest surprised if Costa Rica progresses ahead of one of Uruguay, Italy and England. I have any of the teams in Group C as strong favorites in the 1/8 final.

 

Yes the mighty Greece. I'm sure the winners of Group D will be gutted to face them.

 

Just stick to over rating African players dude...

 

It's this type of comment that really brings you back to 2010, because even an "abysmal" team can take points off Italy at the FIFA world cup.

 

I predict this group will be decided by goal difference or even a coin toss.
And at least one finalist is coming out of this group.

 

Costa Rica actually have a pretty good team this time.
Im not saying they are going to top the group or anything like that. But they are deff not pushover, don't be surprise if they get some points

 

Italy is a World Champion. England is a World Champion. Uruguay is a World Champion. But Costa Rica is a 7-time Central American Champion, so I like our odds.

I think our opponents should beware, but since they will likely underestimate us I feel it's only fair to give the other teams a fighting chance and share some top-secret video of Costa Rican ingenuity. Sorry for the low quality, I had to smuggle the video out of our training sessions.

We call the first play, the Zoncho's throw in. 'nuff said. I'd like to see Stevie G try and defend against that.
Second play has no name. I think its obvious why.

 

We'll get payback against uruguay, no question about that.