Qualification verdict

Costa Rica qualified for the World Cup for the very first time in their history after winning the qualification group stage, and in the process became regional (CONCACAF) champions for the third time. They had begun that eight match series with a loss in Guatemala, but would get their own back as they defeated the same opponent in the return fixture at home a couple of weeks later. For that second group stage qualifier, Marvin Rodríguez had come in as the new manager after Gustavo de Simone had been relieved of his position following the loss in Guatemala City. 

We saw the Ticos in 4-4-2 in their opening loss, but with the new management team coming in, they would be seen in 4-3-3/4-5-1 for the remainder of the qualification. As it were, Costa Rica concluded their eight fixtures already within the first ten matches among the total of 20 in the series, so eventually they had to sit and wait to see whether someone would catch them. However, in a tight group with few goals, no team managed to put together winning runs, and already by the time Costa Rica played their final qualifier, they looked almost certain to reach Italia ’90. 

Manager Rodríguez relied heavily on a solid backbone, where goalkeeper Luis Gabelo Conejo, centre-backs Róger Flores and Mauricion Montero, midfield anchor man Héctor Marchena, and midfielders Germán Chavarría and Juan Cayasso were regular features. Having lost to and won against Guatemala, they enjoyed a similar record against USA, although they had been desperately unlucky in the away leg, having two goals dubiously disallowed as well as seeing a late Marchena penalty saved by the goalkeeper. As they drew 1-1 in Trinidad&Tobago for their fifth match, the 2-1-2 record was hardly that impressive, although they would win their remaining matches, taking their points tally to 11, winning all four home matches in the process. 

The defensive consistency in their team selection was another key component in Costa Rica ultimately qualifying for the World Cup. The goalkeeper (Conejo) and back four (Quesada, Flores, Montero, Díaz) were identical for all eight matches in the series. They always looked more solid whenever Marchena was deployed as the defensive midfield man.

The single most entertaining qualifier Costa Rica played their part in, and arguably the most dramatic in the series overall, was the 4-2 away win against El Salvador, when Leony Flores really showed his worth with two well taken goals. The first choice in the centre forward’s position was Evaristo Coronado, a player with fine physique and good presence in the box, though as he wasn’t always available, Álvaro Solano was an alternative starter. However, for their final qualifier, at home to El Salvador, debutant Pastor Fernández was given the opportunity, and the Coronado replica scored the only goal of the game with a sound header in the second half. 

Costa Rica were the strongest team in the series, and won the qualification group deservedly. USA joined them for Italia ’90 on the final day of the qualification.