After the Ticos heroics yesterday with the Netherlands despite loosing in penalties after putting up an impressive fight. I was moved to research about the squad and their footballing history please enjoy an in depth knowledge of Costa Rican soccer history. Enjoy!
But before we proceed to the past its worthy to note that This is actually the FIRST time the Ticos is playing a quarterfinal in a World Cup. With that said let's go to the root of Costa Rican football.
FAMOUS FIRSTS
1. According to historians, Costa Ricans played their first modern football match in 1876. On Dec. 8, 1876, young Ticos gathered at what is now La Sabana Park in western San José to play the first ever football match in Costa Rica. Six students, who had learned how to play while studying abroad in England, organized the match. Exactly 138 years later, the football lesson came back to bite the English as Costa Rica eliminated the Three Lions from the 2014 World Cup.
2. Costa Rica played its first ever international football match in 1921.
The match took place in Guatemala City as part of the games celebrating 100 years of Central American
independence. The Ticos won their opening match against El Salvador, 6-0. Then, they went on to win the
whole tournament — defeating Guatemala in the final, 7-0.
3. Juan Cayasso scored Costa Rica’s first-ever World Cup goal, in a match against Scotland. His goal would be enough to give the Ticos the shocking 1-0 victory over the Scots. Cayasso scored after receiving a wonderful heel pass from Claudio Jara.
4. Paulo César Wanchope was the first Costa Rican to score in the English Premier League. The goal
was a beauty, and it came against Manchester United. Wanchope, now an assistant coach with the national
team, tallied a goal in his Premier League debut with Derby County. His score came against one of England’s most storied club- Manchester United. Wanchope’s “jewel” of a goal is considered one the best scores in Derby history — and the Ticos’ success in the Premier League helped encourage other Costa Rican players to go abroad then, two more Ticos have scored against Manchester United. Bryan Oviedo and Joel Campbell both had goals against Man United in the past year.
5. Óscar Duarte became the first Nicaragua-born player to score at a World Cup with his diving header against Uruguay on June 14, 2014.
Some say he brought momentary unity between two frequently bickering neighbors.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
1. Costa Rica has qualified for the knockout round of the World Cup twice in its history. Both times on
the exact same day of the year: June 20. On June 20, 1990, Costa Rica defeated Sweden, 2-1, to advance to the second stage of the World Cup for the first time ever the first time . Exactly 24 years later — on June 20, 2014 — the Ticos reached the knockout round for the second time by shutting down Italy, 1-0.
2. Costa Rica didn’t bring enough uniforms to its first World Cup in 1990. During Costa Rica’s World Cup debut in Italy 1990, Ticos were unable to do the traditional jersey
exchange with opposing players at the end of a match because they did not have enough spare uniforms.
This occurred mostly as a result of poor negotiations by Costa Rica’s Football Federation and sponsors.
3. Costa Rica is the only country from North or Central America to ever score on Brazil at a World Cup.
The Ticos lost the match, 5-2, at the 2002 World Cup. Still, no other CONCACAF team has managed to put one by a Brazilian goalie on the world’s biggest stage. Mexico failed in all four of its chances, including a 0-0 tie in 2014. The U.S. lost 1-0 in 1994 in their only World Cup meeting with Brazil.
4. Before Keylor Navas, there was Luis Gabelo Conejo as Costa Rica’s goalkeeping savior. Conejo, La Sele’s current goalie coach, was in net at
Italy 1990. His incredible goalkeeping led the Ticos to two upsets over European squads and a spot in the
knockout round of the tournament. Several publications named him the 1990 World Cup’s best goalie.
5. Ronald González was the youngest player to score at the 1990 World Cup.
Ronald González, just 19 at the time, played for Costa Rica’s national team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. He scored against Czechoslovakia — the Ticos’ only goal in the 4-1 loss — and became the youngest player to do so at that World Cup. González’s career did not peak there. He’s still going strong today as a coach. This year he coached Saprissa to a Costa Rica national league championship.
6. At Germany 2006, Costa Rica participated in the highest scoring World Cup opening match. The Ticos lost, falling 4-2 to host Germany. Wanchope scored both goals for Costa Rica.
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