Kendall Waston (pictured) has one goal in 12 career World Cup qualifiers for Costa Rica. (Photo: AFP Services)
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – For a footballer, it doesn’t any bigger than playing in a World Cup.
That’s why Costa Rica defender Kendall Waston wants to see the second-place Ticos (4W-3D-1L, 15 points) seal a spot in Russia 2018 by getting a point at home against fifth-place Honduras (2-3-3, 9) on Friday as the final round of CONCACAF qualifying nears its conclusion.
“Without a doubt it will be the most important match of my career because it is the one to qualify for the World Cup,” said Waston. “As a player, when you debut and start to play regularly with the national team, going to a World Cup is always dreamed about. It is the ultimate than can be achieved for any player.”
Even with a loss to the Catrachos, Costa Rica can still qualify by getting a draw at Panama on October 10, but the 22-time capped Waston would prefer to share the joy with his countrymen at the Estadio Nacional.
“Here, it is win or win, but you have to calm the anxiousness,” he commented. “Personally, my happiness is to qualify for the World Cup and see us all embracing after the match; the country celebrating euphorically something historic for everyone.
“It gives me a tingle in the stomach because so many things are at stake. The truth is that it’s tough to describe. But we hope that the fans support us enough to be able to achieve it together.”
Costa Rica is unbeaten at home in 2018 WCQ play, posting a 6-1-0 record.
