CONCACAF

Gold Cup Preview: Costa Rica-Guadeloupe

Costa Rica and Guadeloupe will meet in the first-ever sporting event at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Goal.com previews the match.

Jul 18, 2009 12:36:50 PM

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Costa Rica (Mexsport)

Teams

Who: Costa Rica vs. Guadeloupe
What: Gold Cup quarterfinals
When: 4 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 19
Where: Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Costa Rica and Guadeloupe came in with different sets of expectations in the tournament. Los Ticos were supposed to contend for a title while Guadeloupe were trying to prove 2007 was no fluke. One team will take a major step in trying to meet those expectations.

Replicating The Hex

Costa Rica have been strong in 2009, but mostly in the Hexagonal round. Los Ticos have been the only team to win on the road in defeating Trinidad & Tobago on June 6. In the Gold Cup, though, Costa Rica started out with a fizzle as El Salvador handed them a 2-1 setback. Costa Rica, though, battled back and wound up finishing in second place after a win over Jamaica and a gritty come-from-behind draw against Canada. Jamaica helped Costa Rica out by beating El Salvador in the group finale, a result that helped Costa Rica finish in second place.

Stepping Up In Class

Since winning the Hexagonal round in 2001, Costa Rica has risen in prominence with CONCACAF. South Africa 2010 could be Costa Rica's third consecutive World Cup finals, a feat only Mexico and the United States have ever accomplished from this confederation. However, for Costa Rica to truly join the ranks of the U.S. and Mexico, a Gold Cup title is necessary. Costa Rica made the final in 2002 but lost to the U.S., but have not had much success in the tournament since. Key players such as Walter Centeno and Alvoro Saborio are among the players manager Rodrigo Kenton brought on to help Costa Rica fight for its first-ever Gold Cup title.

No Surprise

Guadeloupe may not be able to participate in World Cup qualifying, but the French territory is making a name for itself in the Gold Cup. In 2007, Guadeloupe reached the semifinals and went out in a 1-0 loss to Mexico. This time around, Guadeloupe showed from the start they were no fluke. A 2-1 win over Panama precluded a 2-0 win over Nicaragua and the team reached the knockout rounds in a matter of two games. A less-than-full lineup against Mexico led to a 2-0 setback in the group stage finale.

Projected Starting Lineups

Guadeloupe

---------Fausta-----------------

Avinel----Comminges---Tacalfred---Viator

Fleurival----Capoue---Auvray---Loval--

-----Gotin------Alphonse

Costa Rica

-------Gonzalez------------------

Wallace---Segares----Fernandez--Marshall

Sirias----Centeno---Borges------Alonso

-----Herron-----Saborio-------

Goal.com Prediction

Costa Rica 3, Guadeloupe 2

Goal.com

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