No tiki-taka but Costa Rica enthralls with ‘tico-taka’
Print Edition
COSTA Rica exited the World Cup proudly unbeaten in open play with a first ever quarterfinal appearance, the scalps of two former champions and some tidy football that mocked its underdog status.
“Costa Rica’s heart broken, but soul intact,” read one of the Sunday headlines at home as the Central American nation of less than 5 million people hailed its over-achieving heroes who began the tournament as 4,000-1 outsiders.
Many eyes had been on Spain and its slick-passing brand of ‘tiki-taka’ football before the tournament, but within days it was the ‘Ticos’ who caught attention with stunning and deserved victories over Uruguay and Italy.
‘Tico-taka’, as some dubbed their style of stalwart defending and nippy counter-attacks, carried them comfortably through a 0-0 draw with another former World Cup winner, England, to top a group they were expected to struggle in.
Losing some attacking verve, Costa Rica edged Greece on penalties in the last 16 before losing in a quarterfinal penalty shootout with the Netherlands following brave defiance of Arjen Robben and company in a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.
Costa Rica conceded just two goals throughout the tournament and it did that without its best defender, left back Bryan Oviedo, who failed to recover from a broken leg.
“Unbeaten!” Tweeted its President Luis Guillermo Solis of the team nicknamed ‘La Sele’ as well as ‘Los Ticos’ at home.
“A whole nation proud of ‘La Sele’, and the whole world recognizes this achievement.”
Costa Rica’s consistently good performances had no luck about them — until the final match perhaps when the Netherlands hit its woodwork several times.
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