One game left toCosta Rica show their mettle

HAMBURG, Germany, June 16: Costa Rica's final Group A game against Poland, now only about pride, may mark the end of the road for a side that has driven the small central American nation to two consecutive World Cups.

Yesterday's 3-0 defeat by Ecuador guaranteed a repeat of the Ticos' first round exit in South Korea four years ago, ending their hopes of emulating the 1990 team who made it to the last 16.

More than half of the side that started against Ecuador are over 30. For them the Poland game will likely be their last chance of victory in a World Cup finals on Tuesday.

''We must make the most of it (the final game). We have one game left to show the world what Costa Rica can do,'' said striker Paulo Wanchope, who has said he will quit international football after the finals.

The future of coach Alexandre Guimaraes may also be in doubt.

An emergency appointment and the Ticos third coach in little over a year, he rescued their qualifying campaign but has now overseen two finals' failures, after being in charge when the team lost out to Turkey and Brazil in 2002.

Asked if he would leave after the Poland game, Guimaraes said: ''I can't say until we have played the third game. Then we will carry out a detailed analysis.'' ''I am responsible for all decisions made. If these two games didn't ultimately turn out way they could have, I will ultimately be responsible.'' Costa Rica gave hosts Germany an unexpected scare in their opening 4-2 defeat, with Wanchope grabbing two goals that make him the country's top World Cup scorer with three goals in five games.

But against a sharp and well organised Ecuador side they looked stuck for pace and ideas up front, reduced to a series of long-range shots that rarely looked likely to bring reward.

Guimaraes told reporters after the game: ''We played much better against Germany.

''We had possession in the zones of the field that we needed to. After Ecuador's second goal today we lost this. We were in the hands of their style of play.

''We know that we definitely should not be in a situation like this at all,'' he added. ''We have one more game to play and have to play that for our pride.''

REUTERS

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