In the FIFA World Cup Qatar, Japan, who is in Group E, won the first match of the first round together with Spain, earning three points.
However, Spain won 7-0 in their first match against Costa Rica, leaving Japan second in goal difference.
Japan won their second match against Costa Rica on the 27th, and after that Spain won or drew with Germany, the top 2 of Group E was confirmed without waiting for the third match, advancing to the finals tournament for the second consecutive tournament. is determined.
2nd round opponent Costa Rica
Costa Rica, located in Central America, roughly halfway between the North American and South American continents, has a population of approximately 5 million people and an area as large as Shikoku and Kyushu combined.
Facing both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, much of the land is covered with forests and is known for its rich natural environment and ecosystems.
About one-fourth of the country is designated as national parks and nature reserves, and efforts are being made to protect the environment.
In 1949, Costa Rica renounced its military and declared unarmed neutrality in 1983, promoting pacifism.
It is considered one of the most stable democratic nations in Latin America due to its high level of education and welfare, without experiencing political instability caused by military coups.
Soccer is the most popular sport among Costa Ricans.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the team topped the first round of the league, which featured strong teams from Uruguay, Italy, and England, and advanced to the final eight.
Costa Rica's President Chávez, an avid soccer fan, has announced that civil servants will be given a two-hour break ahead of the Qatar Games to watch the match between Spain and Germany during the day on weekdays. , has become a hot topic.
Costa Rica Citizens “It will be a tough game” “We will win”
When I talk to people in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, I often hear that the Japanese national team is fast and that the match will be tough.
Among them, a man in his 20s said, "Japan has speed. It will be a difficult match, but we will win 2-1."
On the other hand, a man in his 50s said, "Costa Rica will cause an upset, so I'm not afraid of any team. Japan is very fast and it will be a very tough game, but we will win."
TV station reporter “Team unity is our strength” “Scoring ability is our challenge”
Estefan Monge, a sports reporter for a local TV station, pointed out that Costa Rica has "a very good mix of experienced players who have participated in the previous World Cup and newcomers." He emphasized the solidarity of the
Furthermore, while the defense is solid, centered on goalkeeper Navas, he points out that scoring ability is an issue.
On the other hand, he mentioned Minamino, Kubo, and Tomiyasu as key players from Japan, pointing out that there are many players with experience in Europe.
"Looking at past data, Costa Rica has never beaten Japan. It's a great opportunity to break past statistics and move forward," he enthusiastically said.
Great popularity and trust GK Keylor Navas player
The goalkeeper of the national team, Keylor Navas, is extremely popular and trusted by the Costa Rican citizens.
In the city of San Jose, the capital, a huge portrait of Navas was painted on the wall, and some people were seen taking selfies with the portrait.
In Costa Rica, there is a fan club officially recognized by Paris Saint-Germain, a powerhouse of the French first division, to which Navas belongs.
According to Daniel Calvo, who has been the representative of the fan club for four years, the number of followers on the fan club site was about 300 until Navas transferred to the team, but after Navas transferred, the number of followers increased to 16,000. It means that it has rapidly increased to the number of people.
“I put all my emotions and energy into supporting Paris Saint-Germain, but the passion is even more when it comes to national team matches because you can share it with the people around you,” Calvo said.
He then said, "I want Costa Rica to enter the round of 16. If that happens, I will go to Qatar to cheer them on," he said, showing high hopes for the Costa Rica national team to advance through the first round.
Costa Rica's first game against Spain Many citizens watched the game...
In San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, large screens were set up in various places for the first match against Spain, and a large number of citizens watched the match.
In addition, after President Chávez of Costa Rica declared that civil servants would be given a two-hour break so that they could watch the game during the daytime on weekdays, it is believed that officials in various government offices watched the game at their workplaces. You can
Among them, in the Costa Rica Congress, officials temporarily left their seats and cheered for the Costa Rica national team while watching the game on the TV in the conference room.
On the other hand, hundreds of people gathered in front of the big screen in the city.
Costa Rica won the first round of the 2014 Brazil tournament against Uruguay, Italy, and England, which were called the "group of death", so it is unlikely that Costa Rica will upset the public this time as well. I have heard many voices of hope.
However, as Spain scored more goals, the smiles disappeared from the crowd, and more and more people watched the match with grim expressions.
A woman in her 40s who watched the game said, "I was looking forward to watching the game, but Spain is Spain after all. The game was dominated from the beginning, and there was nothing to do before that. However, Costa Rica repeatedly scored zero. We have recovered from the situation, so I hope we can beat Japan 1-0."
A man in his 30s said, "I was prepared to lose, but I never imagined that I would lose like this. As far as I can see from today's match, Japan is a very organized and fast team. We will win. It's a very difficult task, and I want to believe that at least we'll get a tie."