Costa Rica will play a more defensive style of soccer in its first match of the World Cup against hosts Germany on Friday, hoping to improve on their showing in the last tournament four years ago.
At the last World Cup, Costa Rica nearly reached the second round but missed out on goal difference after finishing behind Brazil and Turkey in the group stage.
Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes, who also led the team last time and played in its World Cup debut in 1990, is going to change his strategy in Friday's opener.
"We are creating moves to overcome the pressure that Germany tries to apply on defenses," the Brazilian-born coach said on Sunday. "Our attack will be played in cooperation with our defense. Once we do that, we will be equal on the field."
Guimaraes said the Germans base much of their strength on physical intimidation, and insisted that his team will need to do the same to have a chance for an upset.
"We cannot do any less. We must also make them notice us," Guimaraes said.
Only five days before the World Cup begins, Guimaraes still has several doubts about his lineup. Only goalkeeper Jose Francisco Porras and lone striker Paulo Wanchope seem to have a place in the starting lineup, with Ronald Gomez playing behind Wanchope.
Guimaraes said his training sessions will focus on synchronizing the attack with the defense, which he hopes will also produce more goals. In World Cup warmups, the Costa Ricans failed to find the net, losing 4-0 to Ukraine and 1-0 to the Czech Republic.
Guimaraes also took time to scout two of his opponents in the first round, Germany and Poland. He watched Germany beat Colombia 3-0 on Friday, and then saw Poland down Croatia 1-0 on Saturday.
The real threat is obvious.
"[Michael] Ballack is a German icon, they always look at him," Costa Rica defender Gonzalez said.
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