Costa Rica World Cup profile: Guide to squad, record, manager, path to final, team news, latest odds and star man

COSTA RICA will beaiming to emulate their surprise success in the 2014 World Cup and progress past the group stages in Russia.

England, Italy and Uruguay were left stunned in Brazil as the Central Americans topped the group, before eventually losing out on penalties in the quarter-finals to Holland.

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Here's all you need to know about the Group E side, who have been drawn with Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland.

In a nutshell: Central American minnows who reached the quarter-finals in Brazil last time after being tipped to be their group's whipping boys. They also qualified for Russia 2018 with two games to spare in the CONCACAF section. So don't say they didn't warn you.

Flag: A blue and white sandwich with a red filling. The official state flag also features the national coat of arms while the civil version leaves it on the touchlines.

Population: 4.85 million

Nickname: Take your pick from Ticos (the colloquial name for a native of Costa Rica) or La Sele (the selection).

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World Cup news

BRUTAL SLASHING

Shocking moment man is STABBED on busy street during terrifying attack

TALL ORDER

Science behind how short parents have tall kids after Gary's son sparks meltdown

EUR JOKING?

We have some news to share’, teases F1 chief as he reveals major shake-up

not forgotten

Strictly star reveals heartbreaking moment between JB Gill and Amy Dowden

Manager: Oscar Ramirez. The 53-year-old looks a bit like Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind, albeit with a fuller figure.

Captain: It’s the veteran former Fulham midfielder now at Sporting Lisbon, Bryan Ruiz.

Star Man: While the likes of Ruiz, Bryan Oviedo and Joel Campbell may be familiar faces, it’s Real Madrid keeper Keylor Navas that is, by some distance, the team’s biggest name.

Rising star: New York City’s Ronald Matarrita already has 18 caps under his belt at just 23 and was part of the Alajuelense side that won the Costa Rican league in 2014.

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Most caps: Former Saprisso star Walter Centeno (137).

All-time top scorer: Rolando Fonseca, who banged in 47 goals in 113 games for his country.

Nice kit? Top notch. Made by New Balance, it’s all red with a white neckline and comes with blue shorts and white socks.

Most offensive haircut? Not a haircut as such but the thick headband of Cristian Bolanos should be a straight red.

Any names we can laugh at like kids? Well they’ve got a Rod Wallace playing for them. No, not that one. He’s 48 now.

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Rivals? The team they contest the Clásico Centroamericano with, Honduras.

National anthem: The plodding Himno Nacional de Costa Rica is only rescued by a perkier section in the middle.

Sample lyric:
Hail, O homeland! Your prodigal soil
Sweet shelter and sustenance gives us.
Under the unsullied blue of your sky,
May peace and labor ever live!

National dish: Gallo pinto. It’s a simple rice dish with beans, a bit like what they eat on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

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National drink: Guaro. A clear spirit, it’s name derives from "aguadiente", which literally translates as "burning water". Spot on.

World Cup Finals Record: P15 W5 D4 L6 F17 A23

World Cup Win Ratio: 33.33%

Best World Cup Performance: Quarter-finalists in 2014.

FIFA World Ranking: 26

Path to final: Costa Rica won the 2014 group of death ahead of Uruguay, England and Italy, so it would take a brave man to write them off this time around.

But Brazil would be very disappointed if anyone else ran out Group E winners.

A second placed finish for the Costa Ricans would almost certainly see them face Germany in round two, followed by the Group H winners or the Group G runners up, which could be anybody from a list featuring England, Belgium, Colombia, Senegal and Poland.

A semi-final against Spain or Argentina would then be likely.