Costa Rica’s Francisco Calvo (red jersey) has made six appearances in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Costa Rica (4W-4D-1L, 16 points) has only two wins in its last seven World Cup qualifiers, so concluding CONCACAF Hexagonal play on Tuesday with a victory at Panama (2-4-3, 10) is a priority.
“We are a winning team and it will not be the exception against Panama,” defender Francisco Calvo said Monday. “We will go to play to the fullest knowing that the other team has everything to play for and that they are going to be demanding for us from start to finish.”
The Ticos secured a place at Russia 2018 on the strength of a 1-1 draw with visiting Honduras on Saturday, sewing up second place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. They would like to close WCQ play in the same it commenced (1-0 home win v Haiti on November 13, 2015) – with a win.
“We want to finish well, so that this qualifying campaign is remembered forever and to start on the right foot the preparation for the World Cup,” finished Calvo.
In their last WCQ visit to Panama, Costa Rica triumphed 2-1 on goals by Bryan Ruiz (66’) and Marco Ureña (69’).
Panama needs to gain all three points in order to have any hope of earning a direct qualifying berth.
