Can Costa Rica Continue its Dream Run?

If before the world cup anyone would have mentioned about Costa Rica coming to Quarter Final Stage of the Brazil World Cup 2014 others would have advised for his psychiatric treatment. Being placed in the group of death Group D along with three previous World Cup Champions Italy, Uruguay and England experts even thought Costa Rica would return home empty handed. But they not only qualified from the group they accounted for the early exit of Italy and England after causing major upset in the very first group match in beating another world Champions of the past Uruguay. At this world stage where quality, consistency and mental toughness matters winning four matches on a trot against many odds cannot be flash in the pan. The team of CONCAF region is still alive when teams like Spain, England, Italy, France, Switzerland and Uruguay have already gone home. Tonight Bangladesh standard time when Costa Rica appears against another inform team Netherlands in quarter finals there is no reason why little Costa Rica cannot win and continue their walk along the purple patch of dream. A tiny country of having 51,100 km (19,653 sq mi) with a population of 4.5 million has already the entire Asian and African continent in shame with their consistent and wonderful achievement.

Of the four quarter finals if World Cup 2014 this is a match that can definitely go either way with a very interesting encounter in Salvador. The teams have never met before in the world cup. Costa Rica is the only team other than European and South American teams still alive in the world cup. The Netherlands have undoubtedly dominated their way through the competition by winning every single match in Brazil whereas Costa Rica have shocked the world by topping their group against the likes of Uruguay, Italy and England and by eliminating 2004 European champions Greece on penalties. Although a few analysts have already started talking about Netherlands possibility of finally winning the World Cup yet there are no reasons to take an impressive Costa Rica lightly at all.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will soon take over the charge of Manchester United manager. He has to wait till the last minute to find out whether his star striker Robin Van Persie will be match fit on recovery from his thigh injury.

He has a competent youngster Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at his disposal who impressed in the match against Mexico in the absence of Robin. Along main player of Netherlands, former Manchester City player Nigel de Jong with a groin injury has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

Costa Rica manager Jorge Luis Pinto had a minor scare on Wednesday as the nation’s hero against Greece and team’s goalkeeper Keylor Navas missed practice over a minor shoulder injury but should be fit against the Oranje. The World Cup’s Cinderella side will be missing defender Oscar Duarte who was sent off in the Round of 16 and his replacement Roy Miller suffered an injury, however much will be expected by the team’s stars Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz.

A victory of Netherlands for more experience at this level will not create any news but a win of Costa Rica will be huge achievement for the tiny Central American nation which is already blazing in glory from whatever they have achieved. The football world waits eagerly to witness whether Costa Rica fairy tale continues. The entire Costa Rican nations are already in celebration mood as we have gathered through our links in San Jose. Whatever be the outcome of their match against vastly superior side on paper to night Ricans will definitely get heroes welcome back home for their wonderful achievement so far. We were listening to an interview of a photographer cum freelance Rican Journalist interview on ABC Radio mentioning about preparation of national festival when the team will return home. From their President down to ordinary people everyone joined in a massive street parade to celebrate Ricans qualifications to Quarter final. One can only imagine the response of the nation if they can move further tonight.

We think that it will an even contest with both teams have equal opportunity to win. Ricans have nothing to lose while Dutch team has their reputation at stake.

Engr Khondkar A Saleque Sufi is a NRB Energy Professional and free lance sports Writer, has over four decades of sport writing experience starting from his BUET days in 1970s. He lives in Australia and spends his leisure in writing on Energy & Sports in different International magazines and Journals.