FIFA World Cup 2022: Spain’s youth team will have to face tough test against Costa Rica

Doha. Spain will usher in a new era in the tournament when they face Costa Rica on Wednesday in pursuit of their second FIFA World Cup title as their squad consists mostly of young players. The new Spanish team will be led by two back-to-back Golden Boy award winners Pedri and Gavi. These players will be put to the test against an experienced Costa Rican team. Costa Rica have included in their squad some of the players who helped them reach the quarter-finals eight years ago.

 

Costa Rica will be hoping to replicate the World Cup success it played in Brazil eight years ago and avoid the disappointment it suffered in Russia four years ago. Then Costa Rica’s team could not win a single match and was eliminated in the first round itself. Spain will also be looking to avoid a repeat of the 2018 tournament when they were knocked out of the last 16 by hosts Russia. Many veteran players who participated in the last World Cup are no longer in the team. These include Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

 

Instead, coach Luis Enrique has relied on 19-year-old Pedri, 20-year-old Anu Fati and Nico Williams, as well as Spain’s youngest goalscorer, 18-year-old Gavi. Pedri said that I think the whole team understands its responsibility and fulfills it. I don’t think of myself as the star of the national team because my picture is on a big board in Doha. I am just focusing on the game and want to be in the right mindset and do whatever the coach expects from me. Spain is the third youngest team to play in the World Cup after America and Ghana.

 

The total average age of his team is 25.3 years. There are six players in his team who are 20 years of age or less and they are playing in their first World Cup. Costa Rica, playing in their third consecutive World Cup, have retained some players from the team that lost to the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals in 2014. These include former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas and Villarreal and Real Betis striker Joel Campbell.