That was definitely not the approach I would have taken if I were the Costa Rica manager. A few possible considerations: they’ve had a long camp and a 14-match qualifying run, the squad know each other and their tactics. There isn’t really a need for a dry run before the playoff. Second, which was brought up in the broadcast, but a lot of teams (certainly the other CONCACAF teams) are using this window to look at a few new faces or player on the bubble of a 23/26-man roster to make a case for the Qatar squad. The thinking being if they don’t show it now, there isn’t time in September experiment. In some ways this starting lineup was Costa Rica experimenting and giving a real shot for their young attacking players (who almost all have few/no caps) to show whether they’re ready to be in the squad if they qualify.
I would definitely start some of the players that started tonight in the playoff, but you can make an argument that this was an entirely rotated starting 11. The players not playing: Navas; Fuller, Duarte, Calvo, Lawrence; Borges, Tejada; Torres, Ruiz, Venegas; Campbell would make a reasonable starting 11. I have no idea why you would rest all of your starters in this match, but it’s possible.
In terms of back 3 or 4, I have no idea what they might do, but they have played both enough I don’t think either is going to be a surprise to the AWs.
That was basically a first-choice Panama side. They didn’t start their captain Anibal Godoy, but he usually pairs with Carrasquilla or Martinez in the centre of the midfield. I thought together Carrasquilla and Martinez played very well and dominated Galo and Chacon for Costa Rica. I like Galo (or Chacon) to add some legs to the midfield, but their play tonight won’t hurt Tejeda’s odds of being the one to start with Celso Borges. Galo and Chacon’s passing was pretty poor. That’s not something they are called upon to do a lot when Borges is out there, but they struggled. Even defensively I thought they lost too many duels and too many second balls which is what they’re supposed to be there to do to my mind.
Blanco and Oviedo would be my choice to start at fullback, but Blanco, the seemingly safer and more defensive option compared to the fast, more attack-minded Fuller, actually didn’t play that well defensively. He didn’t clear the ball in the sequence that led to the first goal and late on he was having trouble dealing with the fresh Panama legs on his side. I thought Oviedo held up pretty well. Quintero is Panama’s trickiest attacker and he was on his side of the pitch, along with the fullback Murillo, who is probably Panama’s best player and then Diaz (who had the first goal) was also drifting to Oviedo’s side. He had his hands full. He didn’t offer much going forward, but I thought he did well. I don’t think they’d start Lawrence at left back (who apparently, like Ruiz, has covid), but it’s possible. I still think Oviedo is the logical choice.
I didn’t think any of the attacking mids did enough to make a case to start the playoff. Mora, the debutant, probably had the best game, but Venegas was much better than any of them when he came off the bench. Aguillera had moments, but his miss (and over-reliance on only his left foot) on the cutback in the highlights coochiee posted was pretty bad. Bennette, the 17 year old, started some of the qualifiers, but had the poorest night I’ve seen from him. He didn’t look ready to make a World Cup squad. I’m not sure Aguillera did either.
I like Contreras. He didn’t get much service and still created some danger. He works really hard, presses from the front and has some skill. Plus, if you start him up top, Campbell gets to play deeper and be more involved and I think that makes Costa Rica better. I thought Contreras had a good night.
When the game got stretched, Waston and Vargas had some difficulties in space, but generally Waston was his usual solid self. I was surprised to see Vargas lose an aerial duel on the corner that led to the second goal. I think the back is Duarte and Calvo and then Waston if they want three in the back, so Vargas is unlikely to feature.
Panama scored a third fairly late that was ruled offside, but I don’t think it was. They haven’t lost at home in 12 straight matches now. Their head-to-head matches and the qualifying table disagree with me, but I still think Panama is a better side than Costa Rica… but a full strength Panama at home versus a mostly second-choice Costa Rica? This is about what you’d expect. I don’t see this result or the team they chose having any bearing on what happens in Doha next week.
We’ll see what they decide to do against Martinque on the weekend. FWIW Martinique are missing a couple of their better players, but there’s a reason they’re in Nations League A, Martinique are usually not horrible. I think Costa Rica should be fairly comfortable winners, especially at home, but it could be a competitive match.
