The Costa Rican women’s football team is gearing up for their second match in the Women’s World Cup against Japan, following a crushing defeat against Spain. The team’s assistant coach, Edgar Rodríguez, revealed that the team has been focusing on refining their ball possession skills and correcting defensive aspects in their training sessions in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Costa Rican team faced a 3-0 defeat against Spain in their first match of the World Cup. This loss has led to a renewed focus on improving their game strategy, particularly in terms of ball possession. Rodríguez emphasized that the team is committed to counteracting their opponent’s potential by maintaining control of the ball and rectifying the mistakes made in the previous match.
The upcoming match against Japan, scheduled for Wednesday in Dunedin, is a crucial one for Costa Rica. Japan demonstrated their formidable prowess in their first Group C match by scoring a 5-0 victory against Zambia. Rodríguez assured that the Costa Rican coaching staff has thoroughly studied Japan’s speed game and is prepared to face this dynamic and strong team.
Japan’s game strategy heavily relies on their fullbacks who contribute significantly to the attack. However, Rodríguez expressed confidence in his team’s ability to counter this strategy. “We have what it takes to hurt them, have more of the ball and we have worked on that,” he stated.
The defeat against Spain was undoubtedly a setback for the Costa Rican team, known as “la sele”. However, Rodríguez acknowledged that the players are mentally prepared to bounce back from this defeat. The team’s spirit remains strong and they are ready to face the upcoming challenges.
In Rodríguez’s words, “We turned the page and we have a match where we play all or nothing.” This statement encapsulates the team’s determination to give their all in the upcoming match against Japan, turning their previous defeat into a stepping stone towards success.
Game Analysis
The Costa Rican women’s soccer team is facing a difficult challenge against Japan. Japan is a very strong team and they will be looking to take advantage of Costa Rica’s defensive weaknesses. However, Costa Rica has the potential to hurt Japan with their speed and creativity. If Costa Rica can improve their ball possession and create chances, they will have a chance to win the match.
The match against Japan will be a must-win for Costa Rica if they want to advance to the knockout stage. The team will need to be at their best to get a result against the Asian giants.
