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Saborio, Arrieta and Ruiz among players called up by Costa Rica for World Cup qualifiying

US Men vs. Costa Rica; Josue Martinez (17), Alvaro Saborio (9), Carlos Johnson (19), Roy Miller (19), Brek Shea (11), Jozy Altidore (9)

By IVES GALARCEP

Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio and the Columbus Crew’s Jairo Arrieta will join Fulham standout Bryan Ruiz on the Costa Rican national Team squad called up for this month’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

The team that will take on the United States in Denver on March 22nd was unveiled on Monday and there were few major surprises in the mix. Among the more surprising inclusions was New York Red Bulls defender Roy Miller, who is coming off one of the worst performances of his career on Sunday.

Here is the Costa Rica squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Keylor Navas (Levante, España) y Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense).

DEFENDERS: Juan Diego Madrigal (Santos), Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg, Noruega), Michael Umaña (Saprissa), Johnny Acosta (Dorados, México), Giancarlo González (Valerenga, Noruega), Roy Miller (Red Bulls, Estados Unidos) Bryan Oviedo (Everton, Inglaterra) y Christopher Meneses (Alajuelense).

MIDFIELDERS: Celso Borges (AIK, Suecia), Osvaldo Rodríguez (Santos), Cristian Bolaños (Copenague, Dinamarca), Ariel Rodríguez, Keylor Soto (Pérez Zeledón), Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa), Michael Barrantes (Aalesund, Noruega), Bryan Ruiz (Fulham, Inglaterra), Mauricio Castillo (Cartaginés), y Diego Calvo (Alajuelense).

FORWARDS: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake, Estados Unidos), Joel Campbell (Betis, España) y Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew, Estados Unidos).

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What do you think of the team? Think Costa Rica can beat the United States with this group, or do you still see the U.S. overcoming injuries and winning a very important match? Does seeing Miller’s name on the roster give you a sense of relief?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Roy Miller For The Loss!

    Seriously the forwards are pretty good but if we can dominate the midfield battle it should be a big win.

    Reply
  2. When you look at their roster and compare their players’ resumes with that of the US team, it seems to me that only 3 Ticos–Ruiz, Saborio, and Campbell, would be good enough to make the US roster. How is it the US doesn’t do better against teams with inferior players? They better win this one.

    Reply
    • You’re forgetting about Oviedo.

      Also, I think you’re underestimating some of these Costa Rican club teams. If you’ve ever seen Umana play, you’d want him on the US back line. These guys are legit.

      Reply
  3. The lineup Klinsmann named today on Twitter:

    ————————–Shea——————————-

    —-J. Torres——–Holden——- F. Johnson——–

    —————-Diskerud——-D. Williams————–

    —Edu—-Beckerman—–Larentowicz—–Spector

    ———————Jermaine Jones———————-

    Reply
  4. Ruiz is dangerous, he put in two on us last time. Guzan should be ready for some long range shots from him, as should our defenders also be ready to close him down quickly.

    Reply
    • Only 2 in England and 1 in Spain, all the rest are second tier leagues like Norway and Denmark. This should indicate we have more talent, but the better players in a weaker league can still be better than average players in a better league. Looking forward to the match! Go USA!!

      Reply
  5. “Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake, Estados Unidos), Joel Campbell (Betis, España) y Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew, Estados Unidos).”

    “Estados Unidos” … Ives, did you get this directly from the Ticos’ website?

    Reply
    • I think they’re protecting their abdomen. I wouldn’t want to take a Dempsey free kick to the solar plexus. It’d be like a body punch froma young Mike Tyson.

      Reply
    • Eh, have you ever taken a ball directly to the chest? All jokes aside, it actually has a chance to be fatal with a high probability of severe pain.

      Reply
  6. I don’t understand why Esteban Alvarado, AZ Alkmaar’s 1st choice GK gets no love from the Costa Rican national team. Only 2 senior caps to his name.

    Reply
    • Esteban is a very athletic GK who makes highlight reel saves. He is also prone to being out of position, giving away easy goals(Remind y’all of anybody?). Also, he’s seems to have regressed from last season. AZ’s absolute shambles in the CB pairing(they benched Reijnen for the 19 year old Lam, who looked all of 19 on Saturday{he was at fault for ADO’s gaol, and was left flat-footed at least twice more}) since Niklas Moisander left in the fall window to Ajax, makes it a very understandable decision.

      Reply
    • Have you ever watched him play? There’s a reason AZ is just above the drop zone. Hell, even Joe Willis’ beard would do a better job in goal.

      Reply
      • In Esteban’s defense, he looked much better when AZ had a stable CB pairing last season. Which is why, alhough he only played a few matches for AZ this year, I would consider Niklas Moisander to be AZ’s MVP this season.

      • Yes, he kicked the “fan” after being punched by him and he was given a red card for it, Verbeek pulled the team, essentially forfeiting the match. The red was later rescinded and his ban canceled after it was determined he reacted to extreme provocation. AZ won the rematch.

    • Yes they do need to win this match, especially with having to play in Estadio Azteca against the Mexicanz a few days later.

      Reply
  7. Costa Rica has a chance to beat the Mericans. Most CONCACAF teams are tricky and clever with the ball. Not to mention the ref will likely make some dubious calls. The game is 50-50 no favorites, anybody can win this match. Although I’d change my mind if Roy Miller starts for Costa Rica. He is prone to make a big time mistake, at least from what I’ve seen when he plays for the New Jersey Red Bulls.

    Reply
  8. US better bring it!! Hope Klinsmann takes a risk formation wise. This is how I see it:

    Guzan

    Chandler/Cameron/Gonzalez/Johnson

    Dempsey/Bradley/Shea

    Altidore/Boyd/Gomez

    Reply
    • Johnson might be injured and unavailable for this match, and you know Jurgen has to play his Germericans in midfield Williams and Jones. He could pull a different trick this time around. Seems solid, but you don’t know until the game is played. Gonzalez looked unimpressive in the game in Honduras as did Cameron and Chandler. I might give them the benefit of the doubt with it being so very hot in San Pedro Sula.

      Reply
    • Dempsey and F. Johnson are questionable due to injury. No way does at least one of Wiliams or Jones not start. Boca will likely find a spot on the back line, for his experience, not his speed. Shea has not been impressive at Stoke (yet), I doubt we will see him, he is young and needs to work his way into Stokes’ lineup, being called back for a game he likely won’t play in is questionable.

      Reply
      • Klinsmann just said Dempsey will be available (and likely play against Inter this week) and Johnson returned to training with the team today. So he thought both would available for Costa Rica.

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