New Delhi: The tiny Central American nation of Costa Rica huffed and puffed their way to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
They were the favourites in their qualification group but faced tough competition from the other teams.
Costa Rica turned the tide after Alexandre Guimaraes, the coach who guided the Ticos to Korea/Japan 2002, took over from Jorge Luis Pinto at the start of April 2005.
Soon the team was in full flow beating Guatemala, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and the USA to secure a berth in Germany, and had lost only two losses under Guimaraes to Mexico and Guatemala.
In their previous two appearances in FIFA World Cup(tm) - Italia 90 and Korea/Japan 2002 - the Costa Rica gave a beautiful display of attacking soccer aided by supremely talented individuals.
The players to watch out for Costa Rica will be Gilberto Martinez, Walter Centeno and the goal-scoring prowess of their biggest star, Paulo Wanchope.
Germany 2006 will be the swansong for Wanchope and he would be hoping to put up his best foot forward.
Brazilian-born Guimaraes, regarded as one of the finest coaches ever to lead the Costa Rica national team, is the only man to guide them safely through qualifying for two FIFA World Cups(tm), and Germany 2006 tournament will be his second at the helm.
Goalkeepers: Alvaro Mesen (1), Jose Porras (18), Alfaro Wardy (23). Defenders: Jervis Drummond (2), Luis Marin (3), Michael Umana (4), Gilberto Martinez (5), Leonardo Gonzalez (12), Harold Wallace (15), Gabriel Badilla (17), Michael Rodriguez (22). Midfielder: Danny Fonseca (6), Cristian Bolanos (7), Mauricio Solis (8), Walter Centeno (10), Randall Azofeifa (14), Carlos Hernandez (16), Douglas Sequeira (20). Forwards: Paulo Wanchope (9), Ronald Gomez (11), Kurt Bernard (13), Alvaro Saborio (19), Victor Nunez (21)
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