MADRID, 10 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Costa Rican team beat Nigeria (2-0) at the Costa Rican National Stadium in the penultimate friendly in preparation for the World Cup in Qatar, which starts on the 20th of this month, despite notable absences such as goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica, which will face Spain in the group stage –in a Group E completed by Germany and Japan–, beat Nigeria with goals from Óscar Duarte in the first half and Kendall Watson in the second.
Despite the absence of their big star, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas (he will join the group later), the ‘Ticos’ had no trouble beating some Nigerians who stayed out of Qatar 2022.
Yes, this preparatory match was played by Bryan Ruiz, who along with Navas were part of the team that reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup, with a defeat against the Netherlands on penalties.
The Costa Rican team will leave for Kuwait and will play the last preparation match the following Thursday in Baghdad (Iraq) against Iran, before arriving in Qatar the following day and debuting in the World Cup against Spain on November 23.