No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeWorld Cup 2018Will Pinto return to the World Cup?

Will Pinto return to the World Cup?

Under the guidance of head coach Jorge Luis Pinto – famed in Costa Rica for leading La Sele to World Cup glory in 2014 – Honduras will take on Australia on Saturday in the first of two games that will determine which team snags a spot in the 2018 World Cup.

If victorious, Honduras will join Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama as the CONCACAF teams headed to Russia.

The playoff game will take place at the Olympic Metropolitan Stadium in San Pedro Sula, with an expected attendance of 39,000 fans. Close to 1,200 police officers will be on duty in and around the stadium, and drones will also be deployed to beef up security at the event.

Fuzzy memories of Pinto? Allow us to refresh them:

The 11 best quotes from Jorge Luis Pinto’s explosive final press conference as Costa Rica’s head coach

Honduras defeated Mexico 3-2 at the end of the classifying round to nab a place in the playoff match, while Australia defeated Syria to earn its spot.

The second and definitive match will take place in Sydney on Nov. 15.

“The most important thing for us is for Australia not to beat us in the midfield,” Pinto said this week. “This will be a historic game for the country, for Honduran soccer, for our players. A full stadium will motivate any player to give his all.”

Costa Rica is already Russia-bound but will face the Spanish National Team on Saturday in a World Cup friendly.

28 photos from La Sele’s homecoming party in Costa Rica on Tuesday

Trending Now

From New Jersey Ponds to Costa Rica’s Mud Turtles: A Wildlife Story

In a weird way, stinky turtles have led to my current life as a guy in Costa Rica working in wildlife monitoring. Up until...

Honduras Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise in Respiratory Illnesses

Honduran health officials have reinstated a nationwide mask mandate following a spike in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and a fast-spreading Omicron subvariant known...

Costa Rica Fails to Meet Human Rights Standards for Deportees

The Ombudsman's Office has confirmed that Costa Rica was unprepared to provide adequate care for deportees who have entered the country since February. This...

Can Costa Rica’s Blue Zone Preserve Its Longevity Legacy?

The Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica is recognized worldwide as one of the five blue zones, where people live beyond the age of 90...

Costa Rica Seeks New Air Routes Amid Decline in European Tourism

Costa Rica is working to increase the number of international flights entering the country, as it faces a concerning drop in tourist arrivals.  The...

A Costa Rica Expat and the Devil on His Shoulder

Everyone has a dark side—that little devil in your conscience that says, go ahead and do it! even though you know it’s wrong. It...
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica