Squad World Cup Costa Rica 2022
Costa Rica has announced them World Cup selection on November 4, with a mix of youth and experience. Veteran ex-Sunderland and Everton defender Bryan Oviedo, former Fulham midfielder Bryan Ruiz and ex-Arsenal striker Joel Campbell are all included.
A number of players with fewer than 10 caps, including Nottingham Forest’s Brandon Aguilera, have also made the cut.
There have been some surprising omissions, with former Celtic right-back Cristian Gamboa and Belgian second-class winger Alonso Martinez left out.
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Esteban Alvarado, Aaron Cruz, Patrick Sequeira
Defenders: Juan Pablo Vargas, Keysher Fuller, Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Francisco Calvo, Kendall Watson, Carlos Martinez, Carlos Mora, Celso Borges
Middle players: Jewison Bennette, Bryan Ruiz, Daniel Chacon, Anthony Hernandez, Douglas Lopez, Aaron Suarez, Gerson Torres, Orlando Galo, Roan Wilson, Alvaro Zamora, Brandon Aguilera
Forward: Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas, Joel Campbell
Who is most likely to be named the star on the team?
If the 2022 World Cup had been played in the summer, as usual programming dictates, common wisdom would have made Keylor Navas the standout selection. Six months later, the Paris St-Germain goalkeeper struggled with a back injury during the summer and was demoted to second-choice goalkeeper, with Gianluigi Donnarumma the number 1 favourite.
This could mean Navas struggles with fitness ahead of Qatar, after a move to Napoli was called off this season due to a gap between current and future earnings.
Instead, attention could drift higher up the field, to Jewison Bennette. At just 18 years old, the left winger has already put in some convincing performances for his national team in qualifying and signed for Sunderland this summer. He scored once in nine appearances in the championship.