Doha: Costa Rica will start as favourites tonight as they take on New Zealand in the intercontinental play-off that will decide the last spot for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Costa Rica, having qualified for the last two World Cup editions, finished fourth in the CONCACAF qualifying for Qatar 2022, missing direct qualification due to goal difference after leveling with the USA on points.
New Zealand entered the play-off after topping the Oceania Qualifiers as they look to enter the finals after 12 years following their defeats in the 2014 and 2018 intercontinental play-offs.
The winners of today’s play-off, which will kick off at 9pm, will join Germany, Japan and Spain in Group E.
Wary of the New Zealand threat, Costa Rica coach Luis Fernandez Suarez warned his team against complacency in the decisive clash.
“New Zealand are very organised and very strong competitors. We will be very focused throughout the match,” Suarez told a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We have been feeling the atmosphere of the World Cup since our arrival in Qatar, so we hope to fulfill the duty and qualify,” he added.
Speaking to reporters, Costa Rica defender Francisco Calvo echoed his coach’s statement.
“We have to be focused for the 90 minutes, because they shoot from wherever they can. We’ll have to defend to the death and keep Chris Wood (New Zealand’s attacker) under control,” said Calvo.
While Costa Rica have played 30 competitive games since the last World Cup, New Zealand have just played five competitive matches, which were against low-ranked teams. The All Whites are entering the play-off after playing warm-up matches against Peru and Oman last week.
“Costa Rica have played a lot together and have a lot of caps. We didn’t get enough opportunity to test ourselves against top quality opposition,” New Zealand coach Danny Hay said yesterday.
However, Hay promised to give Costa Rica a tough fight as he set sights on victory.
“We will give everything as we have to win. We know that we are not favourites but we promise everyone a big match tomorrow,” he said.
Although, the coach hoped Wood to shine in the decisive contest, the Newcastle striker said a team effort is needed to overcome the challenge.
“I would love to be that guy,” Wood told the New Zealand Herald.
“But I have learnt over my career that even if it is not me and I do my job and someone else is that man, I’m more than happy. It is not going to be down to one player to win this game,” he added.
Today’s winners will complete the line-up for the November 21-December 18 Qatar 2022, which will be last World Cup edition featuring 32 teams as the tournament will be expanded to 48 nations from the 2026 edition to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With additional input from Reuters
