The Gloomy Face of the Erstwhile “Giant” Killer

KOMPAS/HERPIN DEWANTO PUTRO

The Costa Rican team practices during training on Tuesday (19/6/2018) at Olimpiyets Stadium in Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg, Russia. After losing 0-1 to Serbia, Costa Rica is preparing to meet Brazil in the second Group E match of the 2018 World Cup in Russia on Friday (22/06/2018). The "Los Ticos" squad, the only Group E team that has not earned any points, must win the match to qualify for the next round.

SAINT PETERSBURG, KOMPAS – Four years ago, the Costa Rican national team was famed as the killer of “giants” after defeating world champions Uruguay and Italy in the group matches of the 2014 World Cup. Now, in Russia, it was their turn to face the wrath of another “giant”, namely Brazil.

The “Los Ticos” squad has an increasingly small chance to make it through to round 16. In Group E, which also houses Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia, Costa Rica is the only team that has yet to score any points. It was defeated by Serbia, 0 to 1, in its first match.

Unfortunately, as the team is struggling to score points, it will have to face Brazil in its second match at Saint Petersburg Stadium on Friday (22/6/2018) at 7 p.m. Western Indonesian Time. This will be the third time the two teams face in the World Cup. Thus far, Costa Rica has yet to defeat Brazil. In its last match in the 2002 World Cup, Brazil defeated Costa Rica, 5-2.

“I dream of defeating Brazil and I believe we can defeat them,” Costa Rican team captain Bryan Ruiz said before his team’s practice session in Olimpiyets Stadium in Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg, on Tuesday (19/6/2018).

Ruiz’s teammates and fellow countrymen share his dream. A victory over Brazil would come after a particularly long wait.

Ruiz said he understood that Brazil was a favorite to win the World Cup, with its roster of superstars including Neymar, Philippe Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus and Casemiro. However, this does not mean that Costa Rica cannot defeat the “Samba” squad. Brazil’s 1-1 tie with Switzerland on Sunday seemed to have boosted Costa Rica’s spirit.

The tie has increased the self-confidence of Los Ticos’ players. However, on the other hand, they understood that Brazil would have learned from its first match and could come out stronger later on. Such a scenario may spell doom for Costa Rica.

“We just need to grab the ball from [Brazilian players] as quickly as possible,” Ruiz said.

The Costa Rica squad must be confident in facing Brazil as the match will determine their future in Russia. If they are defeated, their dream of going forward to round 16 will be squashed. Ruiz said defeat would not be an option. A tie, resulting in a single point, will still be acceptable. If they tie with Brazil, they will need to score a win against Switzerland in the final group match.

Internal rift

However, ahead of the crucial match against Brazil, rumors of internal rift among Los Ticos players are spreading. Costa Rican media outlets reported that two Costa Rican players, Johan Venegas and Giancarlo Gonzalez, fought during a practice session on Monday (18/6/2018). A video of the fight has gone viral on social media.

Venegas, however, quashed the rumors at Olimpiyets Stadium on Tuesday. “There is no fight between me and Pipo,” he said, referring to Gonzalez. “What you see is a common occurrence. Now, we stand together and think about ways to defeat Brazil,” he said.

The fight allegedly occurred when the Costa Rican players was in a rondo game in their practice, a type of game that hones players’ ball control. One player stands in the middle of a circle and tries to grab a ball from other players. At the time, Venegas and Gonzalez were seen arguing with each other.

However, in a subsequent practice on Tuesday, the Costa Rican squad was visibly solid. They did the rondo game amid jokes and laughter.

Such feelings of joy should at least boost the players’ spirit and improve their performance. In seven friendly matches before the 2018 World Cup, Costa Rica won only twice — against Scotland and Northern Ireland. They were defeated by Spain, Hungary, Tunisia, England and Belgium.

Senegal defeats Poland

Without its senior defender Kamil Glik, who has yet to recover from his shoulder injury, Poland seemed to have lost some of its power. This was exploited by Sadio Mane and his Senegalese teammates, who won 2-1 in its first Group H match at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.

Senegal’s first goal was actually an own goal by Polish defender Thiago Cionek, who had tried to block a swift kick from Idrissa Gana Gueye. The second goal was scored by Mbaye Niang, who was left unguarded by Poland after the referee allowed him to enter the field from the side. Poland’s one goal was scored by Grzegorz Krychowiak, who made a mistake that led to Senegal’s second goal.

This was a convincing start for Senegal, much like their World Cup debut in 2002. At the time, Senegal was led by Aliou Cisse in defeating defending champion France. Cissee is currently the national team coach. It was a historic win recognized as Senegal’s best performance at the World Cup.

Cisse injects courage in the Senegalese squad, popularly known as the “Lions of Teranga”. Now, Senegal is ready to meet their next competitors, Colombia and Japan.

(Yulvianus Harjono)