If you haven’t read Steve Davis’ preview of the USA vs. Costa Rica World Cup Qualifying clash tomorrow, do so and prepare to be a bit depressed. Davis points out how undeniably daunting of a task tomorrow’s game is. In San Jose, we are a sad 0-6-1. The turf is expected to eat us up. The travel. No Edu. All those yellow cards. It adds up. Why am I more confident than ever that these guys have what it takes to grab that first win? Sure we’ve had some breakout seasons on our hands – Dempsey, Onyewu, Howard (about time the English media jumped on the Howard bandwagon) – but all those conditions listed above (throw in bags of piss and batteries as well) negate that, right? Beats me but I am damn excited to see and that’s why I’m calling a win. Out of the grab bag of negativity that exists in Costa Rica right now for our Yanks, we tend to forget that amidst it all – the Ticos can outright play. Let’s take a quick look:

Walter Centeno, playmaker

WALTER CENTENO

Davis – see link above - keys in on Walter Centeno, Saprissa legend, and understandably so. He is the guy that all the new youngsters on the team will look to for cues. Last time out in April, it was Centeno’s 69th minute goal that sent El Salvador home with nothing. Centeno is the lone attacking leftover from Costa Rica’s 2006 World Cup squad but even at 34, it’s clear he still has the tools to be productive. Despite being at home, Centeno will have to play the role of playmaker if Ruiz and Furtado are going to get the chance to put one past Timmy Howard.

CELSO BORGES

He’s Costa Rica’s pride and joy right now and looks set to make a high-profile move to…Fredrikstadt in Norway?? Hmm. His skills put him on the radar of a host of foreign squads set on bringing the kid along but he chose Norway. Fair enough. Does that make him any less dangerous? Nope. He has become a fixture - of the Michael Bradley mold – in Rodrigo Kenton’s squad and there’s a whole lot banking on this Borges becoming a capable leader. He’s certainly on his way there.

BRYAN RUIZ

Bryan Ruiz, leading scorer

Along with Borges, Ruiz has been quite a revelation for Rodrigo Kenton and Costa Rica. The 23-year old who plies his trade with Belgian club KAA Gent has formed quite the partnership with fellow attacker Andy Furtado. He’s the leading scorer for Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying and despite the limited appearances (only 16) he has found a way to net six goals. Ruiz could be up top with Furtado or wreak havoc on the left side, but when he produces Costa Rica generally gets the result they need.  

ANDY FURTADO

This is only the fourth game of the Hexagonal but Furtado is the Ticos leading scorer. In the first game of the round, vs. Honduras, Furtado struck for a brace to get Costa Rica off on the right foot, especially before taking on Mexico at Azteca. Furtado plays for domestic side Herediano – along with former Fire member Andy Herron – and as another international veteran on the squad it is the partnership up front with youngster Bryan Ruiz – not him alone – that picks apart opposing defenses.

We have plenty of concerns aside from these four. Injuries, Beasley or Bornstein at left back, no goals scored at Saprissa yet this Hexagonal, the busy slate of international tournaments coming up. One point is starting to sound good, isn’t it? Call me an eternal optomist. Naive. Crazy. I still think tomorrow is the day. Wonder what  Coach Nowak thinks?