World Cup Qualification Odds: Uruguay, Costa Rica, welcome to the last chance saloon

Jonathan Wilson / Jonathan Wilson / 12 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

Martin Caceres

"Costa Rica ([1000.0] to win the tournament next summer) will wonder how they ever got themselves into this position. When, in the space of three days in June, they beat the USA 3-1 in San Jose, and then Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in an epic in Bacolet, it seemed they were home and dry."

Both Uruguay and Costa Rica fluffed their lines when presented with great chances of reaching South Africa 2010 and now they meet in the first leg of a qualification decider on Sunday. Jonathan Wilson fills in the details

For Uruguay, this is a familiar feeling. For the third time running they face a play-off for World Cup qualification and will, presumably, just be pleased they don't have to take on Australia again.

They beat them in 2001 and lost in 2005, generating a spectacular amount of ill-feeling on both sides. Costa Rica, at least, are a different - if not necessarily easier - challenge (both sides are priced [2.82] to win the first leg in San Jose, with the draw at [3.3]).

"We can do it," said the forward Diego Forlan, who played in those play-offs in both 2001 and 2005.

"Nobody likes being in this position but we've been there before and know how to approach it."

Yet there must be a sense for Uruguay of opportunity missed. It was not so much the last game when, needing a win to qualify automatically, they were beaten 1-0 at home by Argentina ([11.0] to win the tournament next summer) - although the oddly anti-climactic nature of that game must rankle, but their earlier failures away from home. Although they won in Colombia, and scraped a win in Ecuador with a last-minute penalty, their away form generally was poor, and the defeat in Peru and the draw in Venezuela must still haunt them. It must also be a concern in San Jose this weekend.

Uruguay's problem is obvious: although Forlan and Ajax's Luis Suarez, who has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs, form a potent attacking force, it isn't matched by the quality of the defence. The days when the likes of Paulo Montero could strike fear into opposing forwards with a glint of his eye are long gone.

Nonetheless, Forlan remains positive. "We mustn't be overconfident or let our heads drop," he said.

"We need to realise that we're two games away from qualifying and we can do it. Nobody likes being in this position but we've been there before and know how to approach it."

Costa Rica ([1000.0] to win the tournament next summer) too will wonder how they ever got themselves into this position. When, in the space of three days in June, they beat the USA 3-1 in San Jose, and then Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 in an epic in Bacolet, it seemed they were home and dry. But then they lost 4-0 in Honduras, 3-0 at home to Mexico ([130.] for the World Cup and 1-0 in El Salvador, and a position of overwhelming advantage was lost. The coach Rodrigo Kenton, who had worked with many of the players at youth level and had inspired them to play at times exhilarating attacking football, was sacked.

Quite what had gone wrong remains unclear: perhaps los Ticos had simply begun to believe their own hype and then, once the momentum had gone, they found their slide impossible to arrest without the sort of jolt sacking a coach will provide. Rene Simoes, the experienced Brazilian who coached Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup, was appointed, and abruptly the decline was halted.

Costa Rica beat Trinidad & Tobago 4-0, and then, needing to win their final qualifier against the USA ([110.0] for the World Cup) in Washington, they led 2-0 after two Brian Ruiz goals in the first 23 minutes. Even when Michael Bradley pulled one back with 19 minutes remaining they were on course for South Africa, but four minutes into injury time Jonathan Bornstein equalised, and Honduras ([900.] for the World Cup), who won 1-0 in El Salvador, squeezed through on goal difference.

Having twice been so close to qualifying, can Costa Rica bounce back?

Certainly you wouldn't trust them with a slender lead with a few minutes to go. Such things are self-perpetuating and seeds of doubt rapidly grow into impenetrable thickets.

"Of course it was a heavy blow, but mentally we've handled it well," said the defender Luis Marin.

"Rene Simoes spoke to us about it and we also looked at how we ourselves were to blame. Only God knows why it had to happen like that, but from now on we've simply got to focus on the matches against Uruguay. Morale in the camp is very good at the moment, and we're looking forward to these games."