Costa Rica and New Zealand are battling for last place at the World Cup in Qatar. The winner then has to play against Germany.
Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves ordered the country’s public employees to take an extra-long lunch break before the decisive game for a place at the soccer World Cup in Qatar. In a video message on social media, he also called on all private companies to also allow their employees longer breaks on Tuesday.
“More than 13,000 kilometers away, eleven warriors will take to the field to complete a historic qualification”said Chaves: “Obviously we all want to see the game.” The economist, who has been in power for just over a month, would have liked to declare the day a public holiday, but had to decide against it because of the difficult economic situation.
Winner plays against Germany
Costa Rica’s footballers will play in Qatar in the decisive match for the last free place for the World Cup at the end of the year in the emirate against New Zealand, representing Oceania. In Costa Rica, the game starts at 12:00 p.m. It is also interesting for German football fans and especially for national coach Hansi Flick, because the winner plays in Group E at the world tournament against Spain and Japan and also against Germany.
Costa Rica had finished fourth in World Cup qualifiers in North and Central America and the Caribbean. To the playoff-Duel in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Ar-Rayyan near Doha, the team of coach Luis Fernando Suárez arrives in a good mood. In the CONCACAF Nations League there was a 2-0 win against Martinique.
2014 narrowly failed in the quarterfinals
For the Central Americans it would be the sixth World Cup participation after 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2018 and for the first time the third in a row. It did at the 2014 World Cup “Los Ticos” to the quarter-finals, where they only lost to the Netherlands on penalties. German fans will still remember the opening match at the 2006 World Cup in Munich. The DFB team won 4-2 back then.
Miroslav Klose kicks against Costa Rica at the 2006 World Cup
New Zealand unbeaten at the 2010 World Cup
After 1982 and 2010, it would be New Zealand’s third participation in the World Cup. Both times the team was eliminated in the preliminary round. At the tournament in South Africa, however, the team remained unbeaten after three draws and ended up ahead of the then defending champions Italy in their preliminary group.
Before the playoff against Costa Rica, the try “All Whites” a special ritual. Maybe that will help. Because at the dress rehearsal, coach Daniel Hay’s team offered rather lean food in the 0-0 draw against Oman.
Lucky Banner with Wynton Rufer
It is about a banner depicting three legends of New Zealand football: Steve Sumner, who played from 1976 to 1988, Ryan Nelsen (1999 to 2012) and Wynton Rufer (1980 to 1997), longtime professional and crowd favorite at SV Werder Bremen .
New Zealand national coach Danny Hay (l)
All three were pioneers in their own way and what they have done for the national team and for the country’s football is absolutely tremendous. That’s why photos and special features are immortalized on the banner in addition to the names of the three. “They are in our meeting room and every time we play they move with us”said Hay. It’s about the identity of the team, on the field and off the pitch. It’s about bringing the team even closer together and conveying who they are as New Zealanders, explained the national coach.
The association is celebrating its 100th birthday this month. There has only been one game against Germany in all those years. In 1999, the DFB-Elf won 2-0 at Confederations Cup in Mexico.
Costa Rica clear favourite
On paper, Costa Rica is the favorite. The team is 31st in the current world rankings, with New Zealand in 101st place. “This isn’t about rankings”but emphasized attacker Joel Campbell: “We hope it’s over after 90 minutes and there’s no overtime and no penalties.” Keylor Navas also wants to contribute to this. The now 35-year-old was a goalkeeper at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas is set to lead Costa Rica to the World Cup.
New Zealand captain around a year without a club
In Qatar, the climatic conditions will not make it easy for either nation. The air conditioners in the stadium are humming and humming, but the game is also played in the evenings at 9 p.m. local time. When walking from the hotel to the team bus during the day, the sun burns mercilessly with temperatures well over 40 degrees. “The players are 100 percent prepared for this game”promised Costa Rica’s physiotherapist Ivan Nino.
It won’t be any different with the “All Whites”. The team has been on site for a long time and has long since acclimatized. The recently injured captain Winston Reid should be able to play in the all-important match of the “golden generation”, as the many younger players are already praised at home. The fact that the 33-year-old hasn’t had a club for about a year is one of the notable side stories of the playoff duel.