World Cup Backgrounds:
From 1950 to 1990, the United States failed to make an astonishing 9 World Cups in a row, including two of which that were held right in their geographical region (Mexico in 1970 and 1986). America, a nation known for its power, need for supremacy, and superiority, failed to put its own soccer team in the World Cup for more than 40 years. To put in perspective just how staggering that fact is, over that time span, Netherlands, a nation whose total area is analogous to Maryland, made two consecutive World Cup Finals appearances in 1974 and 1978 (lost to West Germany 2-1 in 1974 and Argentina 3-1 in 1978). However, the US have put American soccer back on the right track over the past 20 years, as the team has been in every World Cup since 1990, including an impressive quarterfinal appearance in 2002 (lost 1-0 to eventual finalist Germany). Nonetheless, in a nation where if you're not first, you're last, American soccer is looking to step into the international forefront with a run in Brazil in 2014.
On the other side of the field, Costa Rica has made 2 of the last 3 World Cups and 3 of the past 6 tournaments, which is fairly impressive for a nation whose entry to qualify for the World Cup was denied in 1954 and who didn't make their first appearance in the world's greatest soccer stage until 1990. Nonetheless, in 1990, the Ticos did advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup, becoming the first CONCACAF team aside from Mexico to reach the final 16 since Cuba in the 1938 tournament held in France. After missing out on the last World Cup in South Africa by losing their inter-confederation playoff to CONMEBOL side Uruguay, Jorge Luis Pinto will be looking to guide the Costa Ricans back into the World Cup.
Game Context:
Coming into the game, the United States and Costa Rica sit atop the CONCACAF standings after 6 rounds of play and 4 matches still remaining. With the top three teams in the Hexagonal securing direct entry into the World Cup, the US and Costa Rica look to be in a prime position for qualification. In fact, with a victory and a Mexico-Honduras draw and a Panama lose or tie to Jamaica, the United States could officially qualify for the World Cup. Following their encounter with Costa Rica, the USMNT still have to play Mexico and Jamaica at home in Columbus and Kansas City respectively before traveling to Panama for their final game in the Hex. Costa Rica is scheduled to visit Jamaica and Honduras before finishing qualification back in San Jose against Mexico.
2014 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Standings Entering The US-Costa Rica Game:
1. United States: 4-1-1, 13 points (+4 GD) [W: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama, Honduras; T: Mexico; L: Honduras]
2. Costa Rica: 3-2-1, 11 points (+4 GD) [W: Jamaica, Honduras, Panama; T: Panama, Mexico; L: United States]
3. Mexico: 1-5-0, 8 points (+1 GD) [W: Jamaica; T: Jamaica, Honduras, United States, Panama, Costa Rica]
4. Honduras: 2-1-3, 7 points (-1 GD) [W: United States, Jamaica; T: Mexico; L: Panama, Costa Rica, United States]
5. Panama: 1-3-2, 6 points (-2 GD) [W: Honduras; T: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico; L: United States, Costa Rica]
6. Jamaica: 0-2-4, 2 points (-6 GD) [T: Mexico, Panama; L: Costa Rica, Mexico, Untied States, Honduras]
