Uruguay vs Costa Rica November 2009
World Cup Conmebol-Concacaf Playoff 2009
With the ultimate prize at stake, nothing less than a ticket to the World Cup finals in South Africa next year, both Costa Rica’s coach Rene Simoes and Uruguay’s Oscar Tabarez will be pouring over strategies and videos of the opposition in order to establish how to gain a place at the footballing top table.
This is the first time that FIFA have organised the playoffs in this fashion but in truth it makes far more sense that a South American team should playoff against a team from Concacaf rather than a team from the Oceania qualification league such as Australia or New Zealand.
Uruguay Overview
Uruguay will feel that this qualification route is a cursed chalice but it is one that they have made their own as in recent memory this is the third time in a row that they face up to this reality. In 2001 they saw off Australia to reach South Korea and Japan and in 2005 the Australian socceroos had their revenge denying the two time World Cup champions access to Germany 2008. Once a certainty to qualify for the World Cup the Uruguayans have found it more difficult of late despite a crop of promising youngsters including Ajax’s Luis Suarez and season professionals such as Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan. Uruguay scored 28 goals in qualifying and possess a real attacking threat that the Tico’s will rue if they underestimate.
Urugua Key Player – Diego Forlan
Costa Rica Overview
Early on the Ticos were running away with the Concacaf qualifying group and then encountered a large hiccup and their form fell away. Rene Simoes, the Brazilian coach who took Jamaica to the Finals in France 2008, was brought in to steady the ship, and this he did. But, he can also be faulted for his behaviour in the team’s game versus the USA when he tried time wasting during a substitution to play out the clock at a moment when Costa Rica was leading 2-1. Extra time was added and Jonathon Bornstein, most likely a hated figure in Costa Rica, scored an equaliser that sent through Honduras and sent Costa Rica into the playoff with Uruguay.
Costa Rica Key Player – Brian Ruiz
Home Advantage
The two legged playoff games are to be played on 14th and 18th of November with Costa Rica playing host to the Charruas first in San Jose’s Estadio Ricardo Saprissa. This stadium is famed for its hostile reception and of course its artificial turf. The Uruguayans will be less than content and just as there is a continual debate about playing games at high altitudes such as in Bolivia, there should legitimately be a serious discussion about Costa Rica’s home pitch.
Away Game in the Estadio Centenario
The Uruguayans will feel that if they can squeak a cheeky draw or even steal a win in Costa Rica then the ticket is theirs to South Africa as they have a marvellous record in the Centenario stadium in Montevideo. Tickets sold out almost as soon as they were put on sale and it will be a rare sight a travelling Costa Rican fan in Montevideo.
Other World Cup Playoff Games
Republic of Ireland – France
Portugal – Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece – Ukraine
Russia – Slovenia
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