Luis Fernando Suárez, “excited and proud”

Costa Rica’s coach, Colombian Luis Fernando Suárez, celebrated qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Tuesday “excited” and “proud” of the players who will allow him to lead a World Cup for the third time in his career.

“What the group did today is a demonstration of what it means to be a Costa Rican, who always gives oneself totally. It only remains for me to thank you for this opportunity,” said Suárez after the 1-0 victory in the playoff against Nueva Zeeland.

The coach stated that despite qualifying, he is aware that the team “has a lot to grow and do”, but he was confident that “there is enough time” before the World Cup, in which Costa Rica will share Group E with Spain, Germany and Japan.

Suárez will direct his third World Cup after taking Ecuador to Germany in 2006 and Honduras to Brazil in 2014. “This third World Cup is an obsession that I wanted to fulfill. This is beautiful and very few coaches have done it and that fills me with pride,” he declared.

The coach had words of praise for the group of players that made up this team that signed an epic comeback in the tie with 19 points out of the last 21 in dispute to obtain the right to play the playoff against New Zealand. “This group is spectacular, I can’t describe it. It’s a spectacular human group, with these players it’s much easier to do things. I’m happy for my country too. It cost us, it was hard and the important thing is that we won”, said Suárez .