Despite poor performances in the friendly matches last week, criticism in the local press and by local fans, and most German fans and players predicting a lopsided win; the Costa Rican team arrived in Munich in a bubble of optimism.  Basing themselves on a solid improvement in the match against the 2nd ranked Czech Republic, the team expressed confidence in themselves and their possibilities tomorrow.

According to Paulo Wanchope, star striker “The team is now even stronger than we were before the match against the Czechs. The atmosphere is hot and the players feel it.”  As to whether it is better open against the strongest team in the group or to close against them (like the match against Brazil in 2002), Wanchope said, “Sometimes the strongest team is the weakest team. All we can do is go out there to win in an all out effort.  We all know that historically Germany has many achievements, but history doesn’t play, only players do. “