No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsEnvironment and WildlifeCosta Rica Takes on Guatemala in CONCACAF Nations League Showdown

Costa Rica Takes on Guatemala in CONCACAF Nations League Showdown

After Friday’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Guadeloupe, Costa Rica now journeys to Guatemala City to face off against Guatemala in the CONCACAF Nations League. Both nations hope to maintain their 100% record in the competition, as the home side also won their opening fixture 3-1 to Martinique last week.

Guatemala Profile

Bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador, Guatemala has a complex yet proud footballing history, the most populated country in Central America (with 18 million inhabitants) has long been seen as the sleeping giants of Concacaf football. 2024 has been a mixed year for Los Chapines, recording four victories, four defeats, and three draws in 11 fixtures.

Nonetheless, they still possess many high-quality players; goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen and defender Aaron Herrera both ply their trades in the MLS for Columbus Crew and D.C. United. Striker Rubio Rubin is the main attacking threat; the one-time USA international who currently plays for Querétaro in Mexico scored the country’s opener against Martinique and has an impressive 10 goals in 24 international appearances. Tricky winger, Oscar Santis of Dinamo Tbilisi, also poses a significant threat to the Los Ticos backline.

There will also be a couple of familiar faces to followers of the Costa Rican leagues, with Rodrigo Saravia of A.D. Municipal Pérez Zeledón and Darwin Lom of C.S. Cartaginés (teammates of La Sele reserve goalkeeper Kevin Briceño) both part of the Guatemalan squad.

Coached by experienced Mexican Luis Fernando Tena since 2021, his tenure has brought much-needed stability to a nation banned that was from international football matches from 2016 to 2018 due to governance issues within the Guatemalan Football Federation. Tena focuses on a cohesive team setup, emphasizing defensive discipline, organized structure, and tactical awareness. This approach has yielded steady results, with a credible 16 wins out of 39 games under the Mexican.

The Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores is somewhat of a fortress for Los Chapines, as they have never lost a Nations League game played at home, conceding only once at the ground when they drew 1-1 with Panama last September. So, Los Ticos players can expect a hostile and intense atmosphere in the 26,000-seater stadium.

Costa Rica Team News

After the victory over Guadeloupe last week, interim coach Claudio Vivas has a healthy selection dilemma, with numerous players vying for starts.

Forward Warren Madrigal will be pushing to start after his impressive goal to round off the scoring against Guadeloupe. Likewise midfielder Brandon Aguilera and striker Manfred Ugalde, two recent national team stalwarts, will be hoping for a place in the starting 11. Right-back Haxzel Quirós has a tear in his right thigh, meaning he won’t travel to Guatemala, with Gerald Taylor the likely replacement. Winger Kenneth Vargas is also a doubt for the tie.

Despite the home advantage, Costa Rica will be expected to defeat a nation ranked 107th, a significant 58 places behind them in the FIFA World Rankings.

Possible Starting 11

Sequeira; Mitchell, Vargas, Calvo (C), Taylor, Aguilera, Brenes, Lassiter; Alcocer, Ugalde, Madrigal.

The two countries are well acquainted, playing each other 64 times since their first meeting in 1921, with Costa Rica winning 32, Guatemala 17, and the remaining 15 encounters ending in draws.

However, Los Chapines have won the last two encounters, each by a 1-0 scoreline, with the most recent victory occurring in June of last year. So, La Sele will be looking to exact revenge this time around!

Kick-off is at 20:00 CDT (20:00 UTC−6) tonight at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Trending Now

Quiet Force, Loud Legacy: Jannik Sinner Beats Alcaraz for First Wimbledon Title

Jannik Sinner is the quiet man of tennis who has become a big noise, burnishing his legacy on Sunday by winning his first Wimbledon...

Short Term Rental Income in Costa Rica to Face New Tax Rules

Property owners in Costa Rica who rent accommodations through popular platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com will soon face a new tax obligation. The General...

Are Boomers Changing Costa Rica? One Expat’s Unfiltered Take

According to the most recent demographic study, over 20% of all US citizens are classified as within the Boomer age range. Every year, many...

UN Experts Warn of Possible Nicaraguan Government Role in Exile’s Murder in Costa Rica

A team of UN human rights experts said Tuesday that involvement by the Nicaraguan government in the killing of retired major Roberto Samcam cannot...

Caral Citadel in Peru Opens After 3,800 Years

A 3,800-year-old citadel belonging to the Caral civilization—one of the oldest in the world—opened its doors to the public this Saturday after eight years...

Costa Rica Congressional President Rodrigo Arias Loses U.S. Visa

Rodrigo Arias, president of Costa Rica’s Congress, got unexpected news on July 9: the U.S. Embassy emailed him to say his visa was canceled....
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
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