Costa Rica vs. New Zealand: the playoff match for the Qatar World Cup was confirmed

The Costa Rican national team officially became the Concacaf representative that will play the playoff to reach Qatar 2022 with New Zealand (Oceania) on June 13 or 14. This was determined this Wednesday, with the victory (2-0) of the ‘Ticos’ over the United States, with goals from Juan Pablo Vargas and Anthony Contreras.

With this result on the last day of the octagonal Concacaf, the United States (25 points) joins Canada (28) and Mexico (28) as the three Concacaf teams that qualify directly for the World Cup, while Costa Rica (25 ) closed in the fourth box that accesses the playoffs.

Costa Rica, which has never lost at home to the United States in history, still had a mathematical chance of winning the direct ticket to the World Cup in Qatar, but had to deliver a historic 6-0 win to displace the Americans from third place.

Costa Rica’s coach, Colombian Luis Fernando Suárez, reserved 8 footballers who had a yellow card and who, if they received another, would miss the play-off against New Zealand, including defender Francisco Calvo, midfielders, Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges , and attacker Joel Campbell, who make up the backbone of the team.

DT of Costa Rica already thinks of New Zealand

Luis Suárez praised the characteristics of New Zealand and assured that the single-game playoff will be very difficult and must be prepared in the best way.

“They are a very tough rival, complicated, they are a very good team. He is very powerful, tall, plays well and we have to prepare very well to qualify for the World Cup”, he expressed.

Suárez highlighted that Costa Rica “He has a very interesting arsenal of players.” and that “there is enough level to dream”.

With information from EFE.