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Lessons of Costa Rica in 2004

redhat

By redhat
in Men's National Teams

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redhat Newbie

redhat

Posted
Posted

Remember our ill-fated campaign to WC2006 in Germany?

Guys, before you write off OUR TEAM, let's remember the

results of COSTA RICA in that year:

Aug 18/04 - Costa Rica 2, Honduras 5

Sep 2/04 - Guatemala 2, Costa Rica 1

Sep 8/04 - Costa Rica 1, Canada 0

Oct 9/04 - Costa Rica 5, Guatemala 0

Oct 13/04 - Canada 1, Costa Rica 3

Nov 17/04 - Honduras 0, Costa Rica 0

So despite TWO LOSSES ( 0 pts), the Ticos turned their campaign

around and ended up with 10 points.

This is our lesson that despite insurmountable odds, anything

is possible in CONCACAF, and we may be able to turn things around.

And you know that Costa Rica made it to Germany afterwards.

We (fans and the players) have to believe that IT'S OUR TURN

to reach the World Cup.

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Keegan Rookie

Keegan

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Posted

if we draw in Chiapas I am feeling pretty good still.

Because that will mean we will have gained one more point vs. Mexico than either Jamaica or Honduras have. Then we just need to beat those two in their grounds.

8/9 points will do it in this group!!! The teams are so close.

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Paddy Newbie

Paddy

Posted
Posted
quote:Originally posted by redhat

Remember our ill-fated campaign to WC2006 in Germany?

Guys, before you write off OUR TEAM, let's remember the

results of COSTA RICA in that year:

Aug 18/04 - Costa Rica 2, Honduras 5

Sep 2/04 - Guatemala 2, Costa Rica 1

Sep 8/04 - Costa Rica 1, Canada 0

Oct 9/04 - Costa Rica 5, Guatemala 0

Oct 13/04 - Canada 1, Costa Rica 3

Nov 17/04 - Honduras 0, Costa Rica 0

So despite TWO LOSSES ( 0 pts), the Ticos turned their campaign

around and ended up with 10 points.

This is our lesson that despite insurmountable odds, anything

is possible in CONCACAF, and we may be able to turn things around.

And you know that Costa Rica made it to Germany afterwards.

We (fans and the players) have to believe that IT'S OUR TURN

to reach the World Cup.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the last time we won an away game in WCQ (of any importance - Guatemala last time doesn't count as nothing was at stake at that point) was in 1993 when we beat El Salvador. Also, we have only had two away ties since 2000. To think that we are going to get points in Mexico to me is insanity. Mexico has only ever lost one home WCQ.

We had a golden opportunity to get 6 points off the bat and have confidence in knowing that we could go for ties away. Alas, it was not capitalized on and we are now done. It is kind of sadly ironic that the only away game Costa Rica won in 2004 was against Canada.

I don't blame the players, I blame the one constant for the past 22 years. The CSA. They hired the most under qualified coach in the history of Canadian soccer. What's next after Dale...Paul James? The players are trying to do their jobs, but their biggest opponent is the CSA. The CSA has to go or nothing will change.

There was a moment in the second half after the 2nd Honduran goal when the camera panned over to Dale. The expression on his face was one of complete panic and bewilderment. You could see he had no idea what to do.

Dale, please resign. You know you are not qualified for this job and should have never taken it. For that I have no respect for you. What the CSA in their infinite wisdom will do next is beyond me. They made the inane statement that foreign coaches are too mecinary – are they going to stick to it?.

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SportingFC Newbie

SportingFC

Posted
Posted

This team is good. They are getting better despite this loss and the tie in Toronto. The team had the Hondrasses by the throats in the first half. I never seen the Canadians pass so crisp and clean. Radinski was on fire. If he didn't get hurt early on, who knows what would have happened.

It just got worse in the 2nd half because of the field. The two quick goals were easy mis markings by the D. That can be fixed.

You gotta admit, there were some great canadian soccer being played early on.

I believe we will win in Mexico. I know we will in MEXICO..

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Paddy Newbie

Paddy

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Posted
quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone

The key difference I see is that we don't have two remaining matches against Canada.

If only Canada was in our group...Wait a minute...Statue of Liberty... that was our planet! You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you all to hell!

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Juby Newbie

Juby

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If only there was a sport for being witty, Canada would sweep, I think we should win next just cause that was so funny.

seriously though, who doesn't love a comeback, Costa Rica got a movie comeback, think back to every sports movie you ever saw, they almost always lose the first and usually the second games.

the focus for the team has to be on next game, not points and the table, just Mexico

edit: we should go dig up the hanson brothers, maybe carvers onto something

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redhat Newbie

redhat

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quote:Originally posted by I_AM_CANADIAN

The difference there is obviously that Mexico wasn't in the group...

What other excuse can we come up with next?

All I'm saying was, even down 0-2 Costa Rica still qualified.

And Costa Rica was the team we surprised in the first game of the

Gold Cup.

If we win, we got a chance. If we tie, it's a smaller chance,

but it's still a chance.

Simply put, we can't just give up because mathematically we're

still alive. Remember when Australia was playing Italy for

PKs in ET? Italy pressured until they scored. The lesson is,

you don't give up while the clock (and your heart) is still ticking.

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Melpomenus Newbie

Melpomenus

Posted
Posted
quote:Originally posted by Keegan

We are going to win in Honduras I am VERY confident.

If we change tactics and controll a little bit more the ball in our half, we can beat Honduras. It didn't impress me at all. And if we can stand the ****bags.

We also need to keep our focus on the game for the whole 90 minutes. Imagine the games would have only 50 minutes. 3 points in Toronto, against Jamaica and 3 points in Montreal, against Honduras. I was pretty close to Mitchell in Montreal. He just watched the match, as I did, he had no new idea during the game. The only thing that made me think he's not a statue was a simple gesture, while Bernier was being sent off.

Mexico dominated Honduras normally, not because it looked impressive, just because Honduras is weak enough. They also got lucky to score two goals in one minute or so. They beat Jamaica because Ricketts didn't get the same good day he had in Toronto.

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Duane Rollins1555362254 Newbie

Duane Rollins1555362254

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Posted

If on Oct 11 the standings are as follows:

Mexico 12

Honduras 4

Canada 4

Jamaica 2

Then we still have a shot. For that to happen we need Jamaica and Honduras to tie and Mexico to do what it is supposed to do. Obviously, we need to beat Honduras there.

Additionally the following wouldn’t be bad either:

Mexico 12

Jamaica 4

Canada 4

Honduras 3

That’s a Jamaica win over Honduras. In that case it might come down to the final game in Kingston.

A Honduran win over Jamaica isn’t good news, even if we beat Honduras:

Mexico 12

Honduras 6

Canada 4

Jamaica 1

We’d still need help—or a win over Mexico here--in that case.

Worse case is that Mexico craps the bed against someone other than us. They can crap it all they want against us.

Bottom line: It’s not all all likely, but not impossible. We would just need to do some things that we have never done before. But, if we really are good enough to go to the World Cup, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to do them.

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Cheeta Grand Master

Cheeta

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Posted

Our last two matches are at home to Mexico and away to Jamaica.

Mexico will be through to The Hex by the time we play them at Commonwealth and Jamaica will be dead and buried by the final match. If those two fixtures don't absolutely scream "opportunity" for a desperate team then I don't know what does.

And quite honestly, I'd LOVE to win through to The Hex on the last day of competition in Kingston.

We have definitely dug ourselves into a very deep dark hole. Either we climb out of it or somebody will erect a marker and bury us in it.

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Vancouver Fan Enthusiast

Vancouver Fan

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Posted

Finally a topic that's not all doom and gloom. Thanks Jake.

I'm sure the team isn't going to quit with 4 matches left so we shouldn't either. We just have to look forward to the next match and Canada needs to fight and scrap for every point available. They have to find a way to win a game. A big game in Mexico can do wonders for your confidence.

I've always believd in the saying that it's not how you start but how you finish. The qualifying process is a long journey with a lot adversity to overcome. Let's hope that we're past the hard part.

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