Costa Rica’s 1st World Cup goal-scorer has high hopes
San Jose, April 11 (IANS) Costa Rica’s history in the football World Cup will always be marked by the goal in the 1990 Italy edition by forward Juan Cayasso, who now dreams of seeing his country’s squad accomplish a similar feat in Russia.
All of Costa Rica stood still on June 11, 1990 to watch the national team’s World Cup debut match against Scotland at Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, where Cayasso scored the winning goal, reports Efe.
“It was something incredible, very exciting, which stirred a whole set of feelings that are hard to describe and has represented many blessings over the years, like receiving the whole country’s affection,” Cayasso told Efe.
The goal took place 48 minutes into regulation as a beautifully placed back-heel pass from Claudio Jara helped Cayasso score the winning 1-0.
The goal marked “a before and after in my life and I have enjoyed it to the fullest extent possible. To talk about the goal in Italy 1990 is to talk of a great blessing”, Cayosso said.
In that 1990 World Cup, Costa Rica accomplished the unthinkable: it qualified to the second round beating Scotland (1-0) and Sweden (2-1).
In the knockout stage, Costa Rica lost 1-4 against Czechoslovakia although by then it had already achieved a major feat.
Costa Rica again made history in Brazil in 2014 when it reached the quarter finals after beating Uruguay (3-1), Italy (1-0) and Greece (on penalties) and tying against England (0-0), while finally losing to the Dutch on penalties.
“Things have changed since Italy 1990. We have played well in several Worlds Cups and it will be hard to surpass our historic Brazil 2014 quarter finals qualification, since we are no longer perceived as a humble and inexperienced team,” Cayasso said.
He added that the 2018 World Cup will be “very difficult” for Costa Rica as it is in Group E, along with Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia.
“I expect a very difficult World Cup, but I always have the hope of seeing the team qualify to the second round and, why not, reach the semi-final,” he said.